ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar on Tuesday stressed the need for employing sincere efforts to address the challenges on the diplomatic front.
The new minister of state, who assumed her responsibilities at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after taking the oath of office today, expressed these views while chairing a high-level meeting.
Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood briefed her on the working of various divisions of the ministry. The meeting was also attended by Special Secretaries including Dr Khalid Hussain Memon and Raza Bashir Tarar, and additional secretaries of the ministry.
Upon arrival at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to join her new responsibilities, Hina Khar was received by Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood and senior officials.
Belonging to Pakistan Peoples Party, Hina Rabbani Khar has previously served as Foreign Minister from February 2011 to March 2013 – the youngest person and the first woman to hold this office in the country.
She was the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs for five months until her formal appointment as Foreign Minister on 18 July 2011, becoming the youngest and first female Minister of Foreign Affairs.
President Asif Ali Zardari had said the appointment was “a demonstration of the government’s commitment to bring women into the mainstream of national life”
