Islamabad, Feb 8: Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey, is likely to replace Sohail Mahmood as a Foreign Secretary next month, a report said.
Qazi has previously served in New Delhi. Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood will be completing his three years term at the office in March. At present, Syrus Qazi is a senior most grade-21 officer and he is likely to be elevated to grade-22, the highest grade in the civil bureaucracy, within a month.
Well-placed diplomatic sources told The News that Syrus Qazi has served on significant diplomatic slots in Washington, New Delhi (2005-06) and other countries. Besides, he also served at the Prime Minister Office from June 2013 to October 2015.
Incumbent Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood, who was serving as High Commissioner to New Delhi prior to assuming the office, is expected to become envoy in Ankara, where he had previously served as ambassador. He will be attaining superannuation in September this year.
In another important development, Special Secretary Foreign Minister Office Raza Bashir Tarar will be appointed as ambassador for Japan. He was high commissioner for Canada before returning to the headquarters. Tarar is good at Japanese language and had served in Tokyo in 2003 for two years. He is set to replace Imtiaz Ahmad who is retiring next month after attaining superannuation, the daily said.
