Zamir Akram may be next Pak envoy to India

Seasoned diplomat and old India hand Zamir Akram is likely to become Pakistan's High Commissioner to India, succeeding Aziz Ahmed Khan.

Akram, who is the brother of Pakistan's Permanent Representative at the United Nations Muneer Akram, is currently additional foreign secretary in Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's Secretariat.

The final decision pertaining to the appointment for New Delhi would be announced next week, The News daily reported on Saturday.

Before joining the Prime Minister's Secretariat two years ago, Akram had served as Pakistan's envoy to Nepal. He was also posted at Pakistan's mission in Washington twice and in New Delhi once.

The name of Akram was considered along with that of current High Commissioner in Canada Shahid Malik, ambassador to Japan Kamran Niaz and former Deputy High Commissioner to India and present senior Director-General Syed Jaleel Abbas Jailani, The News report said.

Current envoy Khan would relinquish office next month on completion of his third contractual extended stint.