ISLAMABAD, Feb 23 /DNA/ – Rich tributes were paid to late Ambassador (r) Tajammul Altaf, who left for his heavenly abode recently following a brief illness, by his several colleagues at the Foreign Office and the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) during a condolence reference held in his memory here at IPS.

The gathering, which Chairman IPS Khalid Rahman presided over, was participated by family, friends, colleagues and contemporaries of the late diplomat such as Ambassador (r) Shamshad Ahmad Khan, former foreign secretary, Ambassador (r) Syed Abrar Hussain, IPS’ vice chairman, Ambassador (r) Ayaz Wazir, Ambassador (r) Ishtiaq Hussain Andrabi, Ambassador (r) Khalid Mahmood, Ambassador (r) Naila Chohan, Mirza Hamid Hasan, former federal secretary, Brigadier (r) Tughral Yamin, Naufil Shahrukh, IPS’ GM Operations, and Sabur Altaf, the son of late Amb Tajammul Altaf.

Shakil Asghar, additional secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) represented Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood in the condolence meeting and termed the passing away of Ambassador (r) Tajammul Altaf as a great loss.

Recalling the time spent with Ambassador Altaf as senior research fellow of IPS, Chairman IPS hailed his commitment towards work and openness to new ideas. He especially praised his invaluable contribution to the Institute’s ‘Understanding Africa’ project and his recent series of briefs in which the former diplomat and foreign policy analyst studied at length the performance and progress made by Pakistan in foreign affairs following the ascension of the incumbent government into power in 2018.

The other speakers also spoke very highly of their association and camaraderie with the deceased ambassador while terming him a skilled professional and patriotic representative of Pakistan whose diplomatic services initially and academic contributions lately will always be remembered in golden words.

The participants extended their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and prayed to the Almighty to shower the departed soul with his endless blessings.