Foreign Service of Pakistan
The Foreign Service of Pakistan () is part of the Central Superior Services of Pakistan. It was formally created in October 1952, after having been an improvised organization since the creation and independence of Pakistan in 1947. Its old name ...
in 1980. From August 2003 to March 2005, he served as the Spokesperson of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and relations, diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral r ...
, Pakistan’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and International Organisations in Geneva, Switzerland, from 2005 to 2008, Pakistan's Ambassador to
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad
An institute is an organizational body created for a certain purpose. They are often research organisations (research institutes) created to do research on specific topics, or can also be a professional body.
In some countries, institutes ca ...
between February 2015 and 4 August 2016.
Early life and diplomatic career
Khan was born in
Rawalakot
Rawalakot () is the capital of Poonch District, Pakistan, Poonch district in Pakistan–administered Azad Kashmir, in the disputed Kashmir region. It is located in the Pir Panjal Range.
History 1947 Poonch rebellion
On 15 June 1947, Sarda ...
, Poonch District of Azad Kashmir. When he was in his twenties, he worked as a TV newscaster in English.
Khan holds a master's degree in English and joined the
Foreign Service of Pakistan
The Foreign Service of Pakistan () is part of the Central Superior Services of Pakistan. It was formally created in October 1952, after having been an improvised organization since the creation and independence of Pakistan in 1947. Its old name ...
in 1980. His foreign assignments include: Third Secretary in
Beijing
Beijing, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's List of national capitals by population, most populous national capital city as well as ...
(1984–1986), Second Secretary and First Secretary at
The Hague
The Hague ( ) is the capital city of the South Holland province of the Netherlands. With a population of over half a million, it is the third-largest city in the Netherlands. Situated on the west coast facing the North Sea, The Hague is the c ...
(1986–1989) and Counselor at United Nations
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
New York may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* ...
(1993–1997) and Political Counselor in
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...
(1997–2002).
His assignments at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and relations, diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral r ...
include: section officer for Europe, Iran and South Asian countries (1980–1982), director for
Economic Cooperation Organization
The Economic Cooperation Organization or ECO is a Eurasian political and economic intergovernmental organization that was founded in 1985 in Tehran by the leaders of Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey. It provides a platform to discuss ways to improve ...
, Overseas Pakistanis and International Conferences (1990–1991), director for Secretary General's office (1991–1992), director-general for East Asia and Pacific (2002–2003), director-general for United Nations and
Organisation of the Islamic Conference
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC; ; ), formerly the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, is an intergovernmental organisation founded in 1969. It consists of 57 member states, 48 of which are Muslim-majority. The Pew Forum on ...
(2003–2004) and spokesman for Pakistan Foreign Office (2003–2005). Masood Khan retired as a career diplomat in 2015.
Ambassadorial career
Masood Khan was appointed as Pakistan's permanent representative to
United Nations Office at Geneva
The United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG, ) in Geneva, Switzerland, is one of the four major offices of the United Nations where numerous different UN agencies have a joint presence. The main UNOG administrative offices are located inside ...
in March 2005. During this time, he stayed as chairman for many forums including
International Organization for Migration
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is a United Nations related organization working in the field of migration. The organization implements operational assistance programmes for Human migration, migrants, including internally displa ...
Council,
Group of 77
The Group of 77 (G77) at the United Nations (UN) is a coalition of developing country, developing countries, designed to promote its members' collective economic interests and create an enhanced joint negotiating capacity in the United Nations. T ...
at Geneva, Government Group of
International Labour Organization
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a United Nations agency whose mandate is to advance social and economic justice by setting international labour standards. Founded in October 1919 under the League of Nations, it is one of the firs ...
(ILO), Conference on Disarmament and
Organisation of the Islamic Conference
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC; ; ), formerly the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, is an intergovernmental organisation founded in 1969. It consists of 57 member states, 48 of which are Muslim-majority. The Pew Forum on ...
at Geneva. He also served as the President for the Sixth Review Conference of the Biological Toxins and Weapons Convention.
In September 2008, Masood Khan was appointed as Pakistan's Ambassador to
People's Republic of China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
replacing
Salman Bashir
Salman Bashir () (born 4 March 1952) is a retired Pakistani diplomat who served in Grade 22 as the Foreign Secretary of Pakistan and as the High Commissioner of Pakistan to India.Foreign Secretary at
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and relations, diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral r ...
Masood Khan's publications include the article "Balancing Geo-economics with Geo-politics" as part of Pakistan's first National Security Policy release, where he calls for regional economic integration as well potential peace with India.