WASHINGTON: Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, who has been appointed as Pakistan’s new ambassador to the United States, is anticipated to arrive in Washington this week, according to diplomatic sources reported by Dawn.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad announced in late June that Additional Foreign Secretary Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, who oversees the Middle East and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), would be the country’s new envoy to the US.
The appointment of Sheikh comes after a prolonged vacancy. The previous ambassador, Masood Khan, had been serving under a three-month extension following the expiration of his contract in March, which ended in June.
“These appointments have been under consideration for several weeks, and the announcement has just been made,” said a spokesperson for the ministry.
Other candidates for the Washington D.C. position reportedly included Zahid Hafeez Chaudhry, the High Commissioner to Australia, and Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, a former envoy to the US, UN, and UK.
Sheikh is also expected to address the influence of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party in the United States, particularly in Congress, which recently passed a resolution supporting the party’s demands.
