Veteran diplomat Amna Baloch has assumed the role of Pakistan’s 33rd Foreign Secretary, succeeding Syrus Sajjad Qazi, who retired after reaching the age of superannuation, according to a statement from the Foreign Office on Wednesday.

A Grade-22 officer in the Pakistan Foreign Service, Baloch was appointed last week, becoming the second woman to hold this position after Tehmina Janjua.

Read more: Barrister Ambreen Abbasi Takes Charge of CCP’s Legal Department

Throughout her diplomatic career, she has undertaken various key roles, both in Islamabad and at Pakistan’s foreign missions. Notably, she served as Consul General in Chengdu, China from 2014 to 2017, High Commissioner to Malaysia from 2019 to 2023, and Ambassador to the European Union, Belgium, and Luxembourg from 2023 to 2024.

Baloch, a mother of two, has also worked as Minister Counsellor in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Holding a master’s degree in history, she joined the Pakistan Foreign Service in 1991 and has served as Joint Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office and as Additional Secretary in the Foreign Minister’s office.

At a farewell reception held the previous day for Syrus Qazi, who retired on Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch expressed her gratitude for his leadership and 34-year diplomatic service. She commended his professionalism, insight, and approachable nature, as reported by The News on Wednesday.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also spoke at the event, praising Qazi as an exceptionally intelligent and committed individual. He highlighted Qazi’s unwavering honesty, transparency, and ethical governance, adding that during high-level meetings, Qazi’s deep understanding of Pakistan’s foreign policy and national interests was particularly impressive.