Prim e Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Monday approved the summary for the appointment of Hina Rabbani Khar as the new Foreign Minister. The summary has now been sent to President Asif Ali Zardari for his approval. The complete absence of a foreign minister in the cabinet was not only affecting the Foreign Ministry but also the foreign policy. Khar, 34, is the daughter of veteran politician Malik Ghulam Noor Rabbani Khar and the niece of former governor Malik Ghulam Mustafa Khar. She was a member of the PML-Q party during former military ruler Pervez Musharraf 's regime and joined the ruling Pakistan People's Party ahead of the 2008 general election. The slot of federal foreign minister was vacant since previous incumbent Shah Mahmood Qureshi was removed during a cabinet reshuffle in February. The move to appoint a full-time minister for the foreign office has gained urgency as talks between the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan are going to be held at end of this month in New Delhi.