Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has approved a two-year extension in the service of Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States Jalil Abbas Jilani, informed sources told Business Recorder. The sources said that the contract of the Pakistan Ambassador to Washington expired in the first week of the current month but the Prime Minister approved a summary, giving an extension in his service for another two years.
This was second extension in after he was appointed on the key diplomatic post in 2013. Jilani, 60, joined the Foreign Service in 1979 and is a highly regarded by his colleagues. Ambassador Jilani assumed his responsibilities as Ambassador of Pakistan to United States on January 2, 2014. Prior to his appointment as Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, he served as Foreign Secretary of Pakistan from March 2012 to December 2013.
He as a career diplomat has also served as Ambassador of Pakistan to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union (2009-2012) and as Pakistan's High Commissioner to Canberra, Australia (2007-2009). In his professional life, he has specialised in South Asian affairs and remained Director India (1992-1995), Deputy High Commissioner/Acting High Commissioner to New Delhi (1999-2003) and Director General South Asia and SAARC (2003-2007). In 2005 he also served as a Foreign Office spokesman. His other overseas assignments included; Jeddah (1983-1985), London (1985-1988) and Washington (1995-1999).