ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s first woman foreign minister – and also its youngest – was sworn in on Tuesday, ending a five-month job vacancy a week before crucial peace talks in India.**
Hina Rabbani Khar, aged 34, is also expected to meet US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the sidelines of the regional ASEAN forum in Indonesia this week.
“On the advice of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, the president of Pakistan has decided to elevate Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar as federal minister for foreign affairs,” her ministry said.
“Khar has the distinction of being the youngest and first woman foreign minister of Pakistan.”
Although the assassinated Benazir Bhutto was twice prime minister of Pakistan, senior government positions are usually held by men.
Khar was sworn in by acting president Farooq Naik with head of state Asif Ali Zardari holding talks in Afghanistan.
Khar travels to Indonesia later this week for the ASEAN talks, where she is expected to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Clinton, according to the ministry.
“On return, she will proceed to India for the ministerial-level dialogue in the Pakistan-India resumed dialogue process,” it added. http://www.dawn.com/2011/07/19/hina-rabbani-khar-sworn-in-as-foreign-minister.html
talk abt women empowerment!! I say good move by President sahhib!! she is smart … and no doubt a young educated women like her gonna give a very postive image about Pakistan. it shows our young generation is capable and educated enough to hold such senior postions… good luck to her!!!we have high hopes pinned on her … inshaAllah she is not going to disappoint us!
Re: Hina Rabbani Khar sworn in as foreign minister
**i heard on one of the Pakistani TV Talk Shows which portrayed her as not an honest woman [she paid Rs.7500 in taxes while her net worth is more than Rs. 1.7 billion], she is inexperienced as she is very young, she has no formal education in political science [she holds a bachelor degree in hotel management and a master's degree in tourism]. the host said she is inexperienced to face stalwarts like Clinton, indian forign minister who has 30 years of experience.
Re: Hina Rabbani Khar sworn in as foreign minister
she just took a oath today and media wale have started wht they are good at!! cmon lets give a her a chance to prove herself!! we need fresh blood ... they are way more smarter! ... i dont think zardari and yousuf would make a wrong decision on this one!
Re: Hina Rabbani Khar sworn in as foreign minister
**i heard on one of the Pakistani TV Talk Shows which portrayed her as not an honest woman [she paid Rs.7500 in taxes while her net worth is more than Rs. 1.7 billion], she is inexperienced as she is very young, she has no formal education in political science [she holds a bachelor degree in hotel management and a master's degree in tourism]. the host said she is inexperienced to face stalwarts like Clinton, indian forign minister who has 30 years of experience.
Re: Hina Rabbani Khar sworn in as foreign minister
and ps .. she has a degree in business ... not in tourism!
Why not pick someone that has gone through the ranks of the Foreign Service like it used to be in the good days of Pakistan? I think she came on reserve seats for women where parties put their members up to fill seats and we might as well have qazi husain's daughter as the foreign minister.
Re: Hina Rabbani Khar sworn in as foreign minister
wht did mr qureshi achieved ??? he had the right qualifications right?? didnt he??
guys .. atleast give her a chance, before you guys start labeling her as incompetent! ... time will tell wht she is capable of or not!!
its a good fresh change .. HOPEfully, things will turn out good!! can we please stay postive???
Re: Hina Rabbani Khar sworn in as foreign minister
Why not pick someone that has gone through the ranks of the Foreign Service like it used to be in the good days of Pakistan? I think she came on reserve seats for women where parties put their members up to fill seats and we might as well have qazi husain's daughter as the foreign minister.
Agreed! The foreign ministry is an important position and experienced people should be appointed for these kind of slots as is the norm around the world. Maybe some seasoned diplomat could be used as a foreign minister.
Re: Hina Rabbani Khar sworn in as foreign minister
wht did mr qureshi achieved ??? he had the right qualifications right?? didnt he??
guys .. atleast give her a chance, before you guys start labeling her as incompetent! ... time will tell wht she is capable of or not!!
its a good fresh change .. HOPEfully, things will turn out good!! can we please stay postive???
Wasn't she a minister of something before? I don't remember anything positive out of that.
At least with firdaus ashiq awan, she can put men to shame like there is no tomorrow.
Re: Hina Rabbani Khar sworn in as foreign minister
Wasn't she a minister of something before? I don't remember anything positive out of that.
At least with firdaus ashiq awan, she can put men to shame like there is no tomorrow.
She was minister of State in Mushy govt. and because of her performance their, she continued with the current PPP govt ( just like Firdous Aashiq Awan), she also did her part and changed her loyalties from Mushy to PPP... and had been minister of state in financial affairs and when earlier this year Shah Mehmood Qureshi resigned and Cabinet was dissolved (don't ask why it was dissolved to start with) she was made minister of state on foreign affairs, since this PPP govt do not have any capable person who can fit in this role, so they decided to throw it away.. and now Hina Khar is the Foreign Minister of Pakistan
Re: Hina Rabbani Khar sworn in as foreign minister
Agreed! The foreign ministry is an important position and experienced people should be appointed for these kind of slots as is the norm around the world. Maybe some seasoned diplomat could be used as a foreign minister.
Name anyone from PPP who is eligible for this slot??
So far, PPP govt have changed, 3 Finance Minister, 4 Heads of Statebank and this is 2nd foreign Minister and i think is the only govt in the history of Pakistan who have dissolved its own cabinet over reasons known to no one...
Re: Hina Rabbani Khar sworn in as foreign minister
We may as well have a catwalk to recruit foriegn minister. This shows the indifference of Zardari regime to one of the most important affairs of Pakistan.
As the relations between Pakistan and US are deteriorating Zardari or Gilani have not even bothered to make a statement, as if they dont exist. They have been happyu to let ISI general go to Pentagon and negotiate. And then these politicians blame that army is meddling in affairs of state.
Re: Hina Rabbani Khar sworn in as foreign minister
and ps .. she has a degree in business ... not in tourism!
She graduated with a B.Sc. (Hons) from Lahore University of Management Sciences in 1999, and received her M.Sc. in Hotel Management from the University of Massachusetts in 2001.
I say good move by President sahhib!! she is smart … and no doubt a young educated women like her gonna give a very postive image about Pakistan. it shows our young generation is capable and educated enough to hold such senior postions… good luck to her!!!we have high hopes pinned on her … inshaAllah she is not going to disappoint us!