ISLAMABAD: Ambassador Shafgat Ali Khan has been appointed as new spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He will replace Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, who will soon take charge as Pakistan`s ambassador to France.

Shafgat Khan, 55, currently serving as additional foreign secretary for Europe, is a diplomat with over 30 years of experience in the Foreign Service of Pakistan.

Since joining the service in 1993, he has held a range of prominent positions, including ambassadorial roles in Russia (2020-23) and Poland (2017-2020), director general for Europe at the Foreign Office (2016-17), deputy permanent representative to Pakistan`s Mission at the United Nations in Geneva (201013), and diplomatic adviser to the National Assembly speaker (2014-15).

Mr Khan has also served as counsellor for political and strategic affairs at Pakistan`s Embassy in Beijing and on various desks at the headquarters, including India directorate. His academic background includes King`s College, London; Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad; and Uppsala University, Sweden.