Formation 15 August 1947 | Website Pakistan Navy | |
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Seat Naval Headquarters
Islamabad, Pakistan First holder Admiral James Wilfred Jefford (as C-in-C of Pakistan Navy) | ||
The Chief of the Naval Staff, reporting name as CNS, is the highest-flag ranking statuary office held by the four-star rank admiral in the Pakistan Navy. The CNS is the most senior naval officer unless the four star admiral is appointed as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee who outranks the chiefs of staff of Army, Air Force, Marines, and other uniform branches.
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Responsibility of defending naval interests, utilization of resources, and combat operations are vested with CNS who acts as a military adviser to the civilian leadership: President, Prime Minister, National Security Council, and Defence Minister. Appointment to the CNS comes from the nomination papers approved by the Prime Minister upon the required consultation from the President and it is a requirement for being Chief of the Naval Staff is having significant experience in joint duty assignments, which includes at least one full tour of duty in a joint duty assignment as a flag officer. In addition, the CNS is also a principal member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.
As current, the current CNS is Admiral Mohammad Zakaullah who took over on 8 October 2014.
Overview of office of Chief of Naval Staff
The office of Chief of Naval Staff is headquartered in Navy NHQ located at the vicinity of Air AHQ, and Army GHQ staff offices that forms that JS HQ in the Rawalpindi District, Punjab, Pakistan. The CNS controls the navy through six commands led by its deputy chiefs of naval staff and its vice-chief of naval staff.
Before military reforms carried out in the light of War Enquiry Commission in 1972–74, the office was known as "Commander in Chief" with three-star rank admiral being its commander. Since 1975, 14 four-star admirals that have been appointed chief of naval staff.
List of Chiefs of the Naval Staff
The following is a list of Admirals who have served as the either Commander-in-Chief or the Chief of the Naval Staff of the Pakistan Navy.