Morocco’s King bestows National Award on Pakistan’s Top Diplomat

Additional Secretary Hamid Asghar Khan has recently returned from Morocco as Pakistan’s ambassador. Ambassador of Morocco, Mohamed Karmoune on behalf of the Sovereign of Morocco, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, bestowed on Ambassador Hamid Asghar Khan Morocco’s prestigious award “Wissam Alaoui” in recognition of his meritorious services as Pakistan’s ambassador to Morocco.

Ambassador Hamid Asghar Khan has recently completed more than four years as Pakistan’s ambassador to the North African country bordering the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. After his return back home, Amb Hamid Asghar Khan has joined the Foreign Office as Additional Foreign Secretary (Africa).

The small yet graceful ceremony held at the residence of the Moroccan ambassador Thursday was graced by besides Ambassador Hamid Asghar Khan’s family members, friends and colleagues from the Foreign Office, diplomats, parliamentarians, the Moroccan nationals and representatives from media and civil society.

Ambassador Karmoune also read out a brief citation before the formal giving of the award and acknowledged Hamid Asghar Khan’s role in strengthening Morocco-Pakistan bilateral relations.

The award is being given as a token of appreciation for the wonderful job you have accomplished and will remind you of the fruitful days spent at the Pakistan mission in Rabat, he said.

In his vote of thanks, Ambassador Hamid Asghar Khan said serving in Morocco was a delight, leisure and an honour for him. The government and the people of Morocco are very generous, kind and hospitable and I shall cherish the memories of the days spent in that wonderful country, he said.

About the award, he said it was indeed a befitting end to his diplomatic stint in Morocco. Although he has spent 22 years around the world as diplomat, according to Hamid Asghar Khan Morocco is the country he loved to serve in.

The notable among the guests included Senator Sitara Ayaz, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Pakistan Observer Mr Faisal Zahid Malik, PPP MNA Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, Hon Consul General of Morocco, Dr Ishtiaq Baig, Ambassador of Ethiopia Jemal Beker Abdula and Director General ISSI Sohail Mahmood.