Photo: Screenshot/JS Bank YouTube
Pakistan will appoint Ali Jehangir Siddiqui as the country’s new ambassador to the United States as Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi approved nomination of the prominent businessman for the key posting, reports citing the PM’s office said.
Siddiqui, who belongs to a business family, has been serving Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as a special assistant, advising the prime minister on economic and business matters.
Siddiqui has a long list of business credentials and has been chairman of JS Bank Ltd. His father Jahangir Siddiqui is a financial expert stockbroker and banker. Ali Siddiqui’s has previously been a director in Airblue — which is also connected to the prime minister’s family — Lucky Cement, Azgard Nine, and numerous other companies. He was chosen as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. He graduated from Cornell University in New York.
The Foreign Ministry has not made a formal announcement about the ambassadorial change in Washington, which takes place at a critical time in bilateral relations as the two sides work to overcoming some lingering trust-deficit issues.
“This is administrative matter; I wont comment on it,” spokesman Dr. Muhammad Faisal said.
Ali Siddiqui will replace the current ambassador Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry, a career diplomat.
Before his assignment in Washington, Aizaz Chaudhry’ served as Pakistan’s top career diplomat and had diplomatic assignments in major world capitals.
Speaking to Washington D.C.-based Pakistani journalists, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua said the government has asked Aizaz Chaudhry to continue to perform his duties as the country’s ambassador at this important time in the U.S.-Pakistan relationship.
