Japan to designate new ambassador today

ISLAMABAD: Japan’s ambassador to Pakistan Mitshiro Wada has been transferred to Croatia. The Japanese government will announce his replacement today (Thursday) and it is likely that a senior diplomat currently posted in the Tokyo Foreign Office will be appointed as new ambassador for Pakistan.

Diplomatic sources told The News here Wednesday that the outgoing ambassador will call on President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar in the next week.

Mitshiro Wada, a law expert and career diplomat, has played a constructive role in strengthening all-around ties between Pakistan and his country during his three-year stay here. In the meantime, the outgoing envoy has initiated farewell meetings with the top officials, including relevant ministers of the host country. He hosted a farewell reception at his residence on Wednesday evening. The sources added that he will call on Chief of the Army Staff General Syed Asim Muneer before his departure.