ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the appointment of new ambassadors to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Russia, based on recommendations from Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
According to official reports, Shafqat Ali Khan — currently spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — has been appointed as Pakistan’s ambassador to the UAE. A career diplomat, Khan has previously represented Pakistan as ambassador to Poland and Russia.
Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, who is presently serving as the envoy to the UAE, will take over as Pakistan’s ambassador to Russia. Meanwhile, Khalid Jamali, the outgoing ambassador to Moscow, will assume the role of Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
These high-profile postings are part of Pakistan’s strategy to strengthen bilateral relations and enhance its diplomatic footprint in strategically important regions.
Profile – Shafqat Ali Khan:
Ambassador Khan has an extensive diplomatic career, having served as Pakistan’s envoy to Russia (March 2020–September 2023) and to Poland with concurrent accreditation to Estonia and Latvia (July 2017–March 2020). His overseas postings include assignments at Pakistan’s missions in New York, Beijing, and Geneva.
Within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he has held senior roles including Additional Secretary (Europe), Director General (Europe), Diplomatic Advisor to the National Assembly Speaker, and Director (Human Rights). Before joining the Foreign Service in 1993, Khan lectured in Strategic Studies at Quaid-i-Azam University. He holds advanced degrees from Quaid-i-Azam University, King’s College London, and Uppsala University, Sweden.
