• European Union’s Fontelles, Ukraine’s Kuleba congratulate Bilawal.
• PPP chairman says he looks forward to working with them.
• Oxford-educated Bilawal has become youngest foreign minister.

Ukraine and European Union officials Thursday congratulated PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on assuming the charge of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba congratulated Bilawal.

The Oxford-educated PPP chairman became the youngest foreign minister of Pakistan after he was sworn in as a federal minister a day back.

President Arif Alvi administered the oath to Bilawal, who was 33 years, seven months, and six days of age — a development that came after much delay and deliberation.

Ex-prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was 35 years, five months, and ten days old when he was sworn in as the foreign minister, while Hina Rabbani Khar was 33 years, eight months, and one day old.

In his congratulatory tweet, Fontelles wrote: “Congratulations to Bilawal Bhutto for his appointment as Pakistani Foreign Minister. Looking forward to cooperating and on strengthening EU-#Pakistan relations.”

In response to Fontelles, Bilawal thanked him and said he was seeking to strengthen Pakistan’s multi-faceted partnership with the European Union.

Ukraine’s Kuleba said he was looking forward to working with the newly-appointed foreign minister and hoped to strengthen bilateral ties with Pakistan.

“Looking forward to working together with the newly appointed Foreign Minister of Pakistan Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. We count on further developing bilateral ties and our mutually beneficial cooperation with Pakistan,” Bilawal said.

Replying to Bilawal’s tweet, Bilawal said he looked forward to working with him to further Pakistan’s friendly bilateral relationship with Ukraine for the mutual benefit of our country’s people.

Earlier, in a Twitter post, Bilawal said he was “honoured” and humbled to take the oath as foreign minister.

He and his PPP “will play our part in restoring democracy, passing electoral reforms, fighting for a fairer economy & advocating Pakistans case on the world stage,” Bilawal wrote.

Following the oath-taking ceremony, Bilawal took charge of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Foreign Office officials briefed the newly-appointed minister on Pakistan’s international relations.

The newly-appointed foreign minister — along with a high-level delegation — is accompanying the prime minister on his maiden foreign visit to Saudi Arabia.

PM Shehbaz announced a 41-member federal cabinet after he took over from ousted premier Imran Khan earlier this month.

Khan has alleged that the United States backed a conspiracy to topple him just because he refused Washington’s advice not to visit Russia in February, a charge Washington denies.