ISLAMABAD: Amna Baloch a PBS 22 grade officer of the Foreign Service of Pakistan took over on Wednesday as foreign secretary of Pakistan.
Prior to her current assignment as Foreign Secretary, Ms. Baloch was serving as Pakistan’s Ambassador in Brussels, the capital of the European Union.
In that capacity, she tirelessly negotiated Pakistan’s continuing GSP plus with the EU as well as other issues important for Pakistan’s economy.
She also was instrumental in promoting relations between the educational institutions of Pakistan and Europe in particular in science diplomacy.
In China, as Consul General in Chengdu, she was instrumental in attracting Chinese investment to Pakistan and maintaining the momentum of CPEC.
Ms Baloch is also an alumnus of the National University of Singapore where she did an MBA.
Ambassador Baloch has also served as Pakistan High Commissioner to Kuala Lumpur. In that position, she highlighted Pakistan’s vital national interests particularly the Kashmir issue and Pakistan’s candidate for the full dialogue partnership of ASEAN.
She was also actively involved in the repatriation of Pakistan’s stranded during Covid. She displayed an exemplary humane approach and maintained a personal touch in her interaction with Pakistani nationals in need.
Ambassador Baloch has also held important positions in Pakistan’s missions in Sri Lanka and Denmark.
Amna Baloch joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan in 1991 and has served as a Joint Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office and Additional Secretary in the Foreign Minister’s Office besides holding other important positions.
The incoming Foreign Secretary hails from a prominent academic family.
Her father is the renowned historian late Dr. Nabi Baksh Baloch. Dr Baloch served as chairman of the National Commission on Historical and Cultural Research as well as the first rector of the International Islamic University, Islamabad.
He authored more than a hundred books including a critical text of Shah Jo Risalo, the translation of Chachnama and Sindhi language dictionary.
He was conferred Sitara-i-Quaid-i-Azam, Pride of Performance, Sitara-i-Imtiaz and Hilal-i-Imtiaz for his academic and literary achievements.
The Dr. N.A. Baloch, Institute for Heritage Research was established in the Department of Antiquities of the Government of Sindh in 2009 in his honour.
