Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Pakistan’s newly appointed Ambassador to the United States, officially began his duties on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).
Sheikh’s appointment was announced by the Foreign Office in June, alongside the appointment of Asim Iftikhar as Pakistan’s additional permanent representative to the United Nations in New York. His arrival in Washington D.C. marks the end of an overdue transition, as the previous ambassador, Masood Khan, had already received a three-month extension after his contract ended in March.
In his initial statements, Sheikh highlighted his top priorities, which include strengthening the relationship between Pakistan and the US, bolstering economic ties, and enhancing people-to-people connections.
Addressing the mission officers, Sheikh emphasized the significance of the Pakistani community in the US, referring to them as a valuable asset in fostering Pakistan-US relations. He stressed the importance of providing better service to the community and advocated for pursuing result-oriented diplomacy.
Sheikh was welcomed at the airport by officials from the US State Department and the Pakistani embassy upon his arrival in Washington on Tuesday.
