Islamabad, July 26: Journalist-turned diplomat Maleeha Lodhi has been appointed Pakistan's high commissioner to the United Kingdom. Lodhi, currently a member of UN secretary general's advisory board on disarmament affairs, has twice served as Pakistan's ambassador to United States in 1994-97 and more recently in 1999-2002.
Editor of Islamabad-based daily 'the news' from 1990-93 and from 1997-99, Lodhi has also authored two books -- 'Pakistan's Encounter with Democracy' and 'The External Challenge.' In march this year, Lodhi was conferred the Hilal-e-Imitiaz by Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf for setting the "highest standards of professional excellence" in diplomacy and for her contribution as an eminent journalist and academician.
Meanwhile, Pakistan government has appointed Attiya Mahmood ambassador to Morocco. Mahmood is currently serving as minister at the Pakistan high commission in London since 2001, media reports here said.

Bureau Report.