Pakistan’s new envoy arrives to take charge

By Zia Khan /Staff ReporterPakistan’s ambassador-designate to Qatar has arrived in Doha to take charge of a challenging assignment in one of the most vibrant Gulf states.Syed Hasan Raza, a political science and law graduate of New York’s Columbia University, is likely to be confronted upfront by pressing issues like securing Pakistan’s vital interests in the Taliban negotiations reportedly taking place in Doha to seek peace in Afghanistan.Equally uphill would be the task to delicately carry forward Qatar-Pakistan talks for the export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to meet frustrating shortages back home, threatening the economy.Pakistan’s due share in the import of manpower to Qatar over the next half a decade amid a construction boom ahead of the nation hosting the soccer World Cup in 2022 is another matter expected to test his bargaining skills. His experience of working on the Afghan desk at the foreign ministry and numerous assignments he held in the past are likely to give him enough background support to deal with these complex issues. His experience in the Gulf region would be an added advantage. From 2003 to 2005, he served as deputy consul general in Jeddah and as alternate representative of Pakistan to the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC). He joined the OIC in 2005 as adviser to the OIC secretary general on political and legal affairs and served there for three years. Raza resumed his responsibilities in the foreign ministry in 2009 and held important assignment of director-general, economic co-operation OIC and Friends of Democratic Pakistan, a group of 21 countries and four international institutions.