The new Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan Peter Heyward is likely to take up his new announcement in June.
A statement from the Australian High Commission Tuesday said Heyward will replace Timothy George who has been High Commissioner since June 2009. Heyward is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and was until recently Assistant Secretary Africa Branch, a position he held from June 2011. Prior to this, he was Assistant Secretary, Consular Operations Branch. Heyward previously served overseas as Australia’s Ambassador to East Timor; Ambassador to Brazil, also accredited to Colombia and Venezuela; Deputy Permanent Representative, Australian Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Geneva and Deputy Head of Mission, Australian Embassy, Argentina. Recalling the long-standing friendship built on a common heritage as members of the Commonwealth, the embassy stated the “two countries have significant shared interests, including mutual strategic interest in combating terrorism and extremism.”
Australia is committed to working in partnership with Pakistan in its efforts to confront security threats and to build economic prosperity and enhance development. It pointed that this includes assisting in dealing with the impact of recent devastating floods. “Our relationship is characterised by solid bilateral trade and economic links, increased defence and law enforcement cooperation and an expanded development cooperation partnership.
