FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch appointed ambassador to France 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the appointment of three new ambassadors abroad, including Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch as Pakistan’s envoy to France, on a recommendation from Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. 

According to Foreign Office sources, Marghoob Saleem Butt has been appointed Pakistan’s ambassador to Switzerland. Butt currently serves as Additional Secretary for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Additionally, Aamir Shaukat has been approved as the ambassador to Egypt. Shaukat is presently serving as Pakistan’s ambassador to Switzerland. 

The prime minister had received a summary of these appointments from the Foreign Office last month, and France has formally granted diplomatic approval for the newly nominated ambassador. 

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, who currently serves as the Foreign Office spokesperson, will take on her new role as Pakistan’s ambassador to France.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has established a Crisis Management Unit (CMU) in Syria amidst the regime change events, for Pakistanis in the country. The CMU will help the Pakistani citizens in dealing with the chaotic situation unfolding in Syria.

Pakistan’s foreign office has given the contact number for CMU 051-9207887 and email address cmu1@mofa.gov.pk for Pakistanis to reach out and seek assistance.

In a press release, the FO also said that Pakistan Embassy in Syria is also actively engaged in facilitating Pakistani nationals present in Damascus and other cities. The Embassy can be contacted at the phone and WhatsApp numbers +963 987 127 822; +963 990 138 972 and via email adress parepdamascus@mofa.gov.pk.

Earlier today, international media reported that the Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad had fled the country, to an undisclosed location while the rebels made their first announcement on Syrian state television that they had taken over the capital.