“I am delighted to also announce that Ambassador Ahmad, who is currently Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, will be the next Foreign Secretary of Pakistan,” FM Dar said in a post on X.

“I am confident that, under Ambassador Iftikhar’s leadership, the Foreign Office will continue to advance Pakistan’s interests with clarity, professionalism and purpose, building on the important work undertaken by Ambassador Amna Baloch and all her predecessors,” he added.

Moreover, FM Dar commended Amna Baloch, the current foreign secretary, for her “dedicated service and leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during a consequential period in Pakistan’s diplomatic history”.

“Baloch leaves behind a legacy of dedicated public service and carries with her our warmest wishes,” he stated.

FM Dar said that Baloch would assume charge as Pakistan’s ambassador to Türkiye after her retirement.

“I am confident she will continue to serve Pakistan with distinction in this new role,” he said.

According to the foreign minister, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had also approved the aforementioned assignments.

Baloch has been serving as Pakistan’s 33rd foreign secretary since September 11, 2024. She will retire from government service on September 17.

In a post on X, Ambassador Ahmad also hailed his appointment as “a great honour”.

“Deeply humbled by the confidence and trust reposed by the leadership. Looking forward to carrying out together this responsibility in advancing supreme national interest,” he said.

“Thankful to Allah for His blessings, and to parents, family, friends and colleagues for their support and prayers.”

The government on Wednesday increased the price of petrol by Rs3.40 per litre and that of high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs6.72 per litre.

Following the revision, petrol will retail at Rs367.75 per litre while HSD will cost Rs392.67 per litre. The government continues to levy Rs114 per litre in taxes and duties on petrol and Rs100 per litre on diesel.

According to the Petroleum Division’s notification, the new prices will be applicable on Sept 10 (Thursday).

The price of HSD has come down from a peak of Rs520.35 recorded on April 3. Its price had started rising from Rs281 per litre after the US-Iran war broke out on February 28.

The petrol price had peaked at Rs458.41 on April 3 after beginning its upward trajectory from Rs266 in the first week of March.

On July 17, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik announced that fuel prices would now be fixed on a daily basis due to fluctuations in international market prices following renewed hostilities between Iran and the US.

Prior to this, the government had been announcing weekly revisions to fuel prices since early March, alongside measures for the conservation of fuel amid possible oil supply disruptions due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The federal government in April also announced targeted relief measures to provide subsidised fuel.

The petroleum minister stated that the cabinet and the prime minister had decided to give the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) the responsibility of deciding fuel prices on a daily basis based on international market trends.

Petrol is mainly used in private transport, small vehicles, rickshaws and two-wheelers, and changes in its price affect the middle and lower-middle classes.

Similarly, changes in diesel prices also impact the public at large, as it is mainly used in the heavy transport sector, power plants and large generators.

Petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) are the major revenue earners, with monthly sales of about 700,000 to 800,000 tonnes, compared to just 10,000 tonnes of monthly demand for kerosene.