Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Monday approved a summary to elevate Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar as the country’s foreign minister, making her the first woman to hold the office. The moved comes ahead of crucial talks with India next month, an official confirmed while talking to Pakistan Today.
The source said the decision was taken following insistence by Indian authorities to appoint a federal minister for foreign affairs ahead of the India-Pakistan foreign minister-level talks due on July 26-27. The source said prior to his departure for the UK, the prime minister approved the summary in a meeting held at the PM’s House.
Hina briefed Gilani on the upcoming ASEAN Regional Forum meeting scheduled for July 22 and 23 in Bali, Indonesia. She also discussed her scheduled ministerial dialogue with India on July 27 in New Delhi. The source said the PM’s House had forwarded the summary to the Presidency and after a formal notification would be issued after an approval by the president.
The oath would be administered within a day or two, the source said. Hina, 34, is expected to take charge as soon as a notification is issued by the Presidency, the sources said. Hina’s elevation, although expected, may prove shocking for other contenders from the PPP. Those running for the coveted post included Sardar Assef Ahmed Ali, Makhdoom Shahabuddin and Aftab Shaaban Mirani.
The slot fell vacant after former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was removed from office during the reshuffling of the federal cabinet in February. Hina, an expert on financial matters, is being dubbed as an inexperienced campaigner on India-Pakistan affairs as she has no diplomatic background. Experts have time and again criticised her elevation as the foreign minister and the elevation would surely create ripples within the ruling PPP, as Hina only joined the PPP just before general election held in February 2008.
Gilani approves Hina as foreign minister
