Khan sets up advisory council to guide on national interest issues

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan Friday set up an advisory council under the chairmanship of Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to guide the foreign ministry on issues of national interest. "The Advisory Council, through its deliberations and recommendations, will help take stock of Pakistan's foreign policy and make recommendations for achievement of our foreign policy goals," the Foreign Office said. The Advisory Council constituted comprises of highly experienced former diplomats and ambassadors alongside academicians.

It said "in order to emphasis on these issues, Dr Adil Najam, a world-renowned expert has been included in the Advisory Council. In order to dispel the impression of our foreign policy being mostly security-centric and less directed towards economic issues, experts having relevant experience in international economics have been made part of the advisory council".

The council will have representation from the Foreign Service Academy, the institution where Pakistani diplomats are trained, linking the training academy directly with the policy-making domain. In addition to this, the Director General of Institute of Strategic Studies will also be a member of this council.