Pakistan's envoy to China Riaz  Muhammad
Khan  is  slated  to  be the  country's  next  foreign  secretary
replacing  the  present incumbent Riaz Khokhar,  who  retires  on
December 31.

According  to  the Daily Times, the federal  government  recently
decided in principle to bring about the change.

Khan's appointment would have come early, but it has been delayed
because of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's proposed visit to China.
"Mr  Khan  would  have come to Islamabad earlier  but  could  not
because  of the proposed visit by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz  to
China," the paper quoted official sources as saying.

They  further  said that Khan would take charge in  January,  but
Khokhar  could continue as foreign secretary till the next  SAARC
summit from January 9 to 11. "Both Khokhar and Khan could  attend
the summit as part of Pakistan's delegation," the sources added.

Meanwhile, Salman Bashir, the additional secretary for the  Asia-
Pacific   region,  is  likely  to  replace  Khan  as   Pakistan's
ambassador to China, though, the ambassador to Japan Kamran  Niaz
is  also among the front runners for the post, the report  added.
(ANI)