Islamabad
A change of guard is expected in the diplomatic community as the current dean of the diplomatic cops Rodolfo Martin J Saravia is expected to leave office after reaching the age of superannuation in August this year. He has already spent over 10 years in Pakistan.
He is one of the few ambassadors who have served the longest period of time as ambassador and dean also. Ambassador Saravia during his decade-long tenure ostensibly gave new dimensions to diplomacy.
He shall be remembered for the dynamism and enthusiasm with which he ran the office of the dean.
After Ambassador Rodolfo the senior most ambassador happens to be Bakhytbek Shabarbayev, the ambassador of Kazakhstan, who is to become the next dean after departure of Rodolfo. However, Ambassador Shabarbayev, according to sources, may not be interested in this job.
After him, Ambassador of Bahrain Mohammed Ebrahim Mohamed Abdulqader is in the line to become the dean being at No.3 for the moment.
Sri Lankan High Commissioner Jaylath Weerakodhay is next in the seniority list and also a candidate for deanship provided he stays in Pakistan.
Ambassador of Romania Emilain ION too stands bright chances of becoming the dean as he is next in the line of seniority list. He is currently holding office of dean of the European ambassadors -- a post that he occupied after departure of Greek Ambassador Petros Mavroidis a few weeks ago.
Ambassador Emilain too happens to be a dynamic ambassador who has given impetus to bilateral relations by not only opening consulates in all major cities but improve significantly the trade and business relations.
The Romanian delegation evinced interest in expanding these relations, especially in the field of defence when a high powered Romanian delegation attended the IDEAS 2014 exhibition recently concluded in Karachi.
Meanwhile, a number of ambassadors have already left Pakistan after completing their tenure. Prominent among them are
ambassadors of Greece, Austria, Norway, France Oman, Algeria and Sudan. While Belarus has recently opened its embassy in Pakistan and appointed a full ambassador here.
Ambassador of Brazil Alfredo Leoni is also expected to leave Pakistan after completing his term in Pakistan. He has been posted to Warsaw, Poland. Ambassador Leoni spent an active tenure in Pakistan and during his tenure new dimensions were given to Pakistan, Brazil relations.
During his tenure both countries signed a number of agreements in all fields. Ambassador Leoni shall be remembered in the sense that during his tenure Pakistani businessmen were granted five year multiple visa – thus Brazil becoming the first Latin American country extending this facility to Pakistani businessmen.