The Chief of Naval Staff ( ur, , Rais amlah pak bahriyah;
reporting name
NATO reporting names are code names for military equipment from Russia, China, and historically, the Eastern Bloc (Soviet Union and other nations of the Warsaw Pact). They provide unambiguous and easily understood English words in a uniform manne ...
as CNS), is a military appointment and a
Statutory office held by a
four-star admiral in the
Pakistan Navy, who is nominated and appointed by the
Prime Minister of Pakistan
The prime minister of Pakistan ( ur, , romanized: Wazīr ē Aʿẓam , ) is the head of government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Executive authority is vested in the prime minister and his chosen cabinet, despite the president of Pa ...
and confirmed by the
President of Pakistan.
The Chief of Naval Staff is one of the senior-most appointments in the
Pakistan military
The Pakistan Armed Forces (; ) are the military forces of Pakistan. It is the world's sixth-largest military measured by active military personnel and consist of three formally uniformed services—the Army, Navy, and the Air Force, which are ...
who is one of the senior members of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee
The Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC), ( ur, ); is an administrative body of senior high-ranking uniformed military leaders of the unified Pakistan Armed Forces who advises the civilian Government of Pakistan, National Security Council, ...
in a separate capacity, providing senior consultation to the
Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee
The Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) ( ur, ) is, in principle, the highest-ranking and senior most uniformed military officer, typically at four-star rank, in the Pakistan Armed Forces who serves as a Principal Staff Officer and ...
to act as a principal
military advisor
Military advisors, or combat advisors, advise on military matters. Some are soldiers sent to foreign countries
to aid such countries with their military training, organization, and other various military tasks. The Foreign powers or organizations ...
to the
Prime Minister of Pakistan
The prime minister of Pakistan ( ur, , romanized: Wazīr ē Aʿẓam , ) is the head of government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Executive authority is vested in the prime minister and his chosen cabinet, despite the president of Pa ...
and its
civilian government
Civil authority or civil government is the practical implementation of a state on behalf of its citizens, other than through military units (martial law), that enforces law and order and that is distinguished from religious authority (for exampl ...
in the line of defending and safeguarding the
expedition, maritime and sealine borders of the nation.
The Chief of Naval Staff exercise its responsibility of
command and control
Command and control (abbr. C2) is a "set of organizational and technical attributes and processes ... hatemploys human, physical, and information resources to solve problems and accomplish missions" to achieve the goals of an organization or en ...
of the operational, combatant, logistics, administration, and training commands within the
Pakistan Navy, in a clear contrast to the
U.S. Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage o ...
's
Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). Due to its responsibility and importance, the Chief of Naval Staff plays a critical role in assessing the
coastal defence
Coastal management is defence against flooding and erosion, and techniques that stop erosion to claim lands. Protection against rising sea levels in the 21st century is crucial, as sea level rise accelerates due to climate change. Changes in s ...
and conducting
reconnaissance
In military operations, reconnaissance or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enemy forces, terrain, and other activities.
Examples of reconnaissance include patrolling by troops (skirmisher ...
to insure its
strike capability against aggressive forces.
In principle, the appointment is constitutionally subjected for three years but extensions may be granted by the President upon recommendations and approvals from the Prime Minister. The Chief of Naval Staff is based on the Navy NHQ, and the current Chief of Naval Staff is Admiral
Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi serving as chief of naval staff, who took over the command as chief of naval staff on 7 October 2020.
History
The
Pakistan Navy was created from the partition of the
Royal Indian Navy
The Royal Indian Navy (RIN) was the naval force of British India and the Dominion of India. Along with the Presidency armies, later the Indian Army, and from 1932 the Royal Indian Air Force, it was one of the Armed Forces of British India.
F ...
after the
India's partition on
14/15 August of
1947.
Direct appointments in the navy was in the responsibility of the
British Admiralty who appointed
Rear Admiral James Wilfred Jefford
Vice Admiral James Wilfred Jefford CB, CBE (22 March 1901 – 1 January 1980) was the first Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Pakistan Navy, serving from its inception in 1947 until 1953. Most of his early career was in the Royal Indian Navy.
...
as Pakistan Navy's first
Flag Officer Commanding
A flag officer is a Officer (armed forces), commissioned officer in a nation's armed forces senior enough to be entitled to fly a flag to mark the position from which the officer exercises command.
The term is used differently in different countr ...
(FOC).
The post was changed to Commander-in-Chief when Vice-Admiral
Mohammad Siddiq Choudri became the first native naval commander in 1953, and the title changed from Commander in Chief to Chief of Staff in 1969 with Vice-Admiral
Muzaffar Hassan
Vice Admiral Muzzafar Hassan ( ur, مظفر حسن; b. 1920–24 May 2012) , was a Pakistan Navy senior admiral who served as the last Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan Navy from 1969 until 1972, serving under first President Yahya Khan and then u ...
acting as Commander-in-Chief and Rear-Admiral Rashid Ahmad as Chief of Staff.
On 20 March 1972, the renamed as "Chief of Naval Staff" (CNS) with
Vice-Admiral H.H. Ahmed becoming the first chief of naval staff, though his rank was not elevated to four-star rank.
The term of the superannuation was then constrained to three years in the office as opposed to four years and was made a permanent member of
Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee
The Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC), ( ur, ); is an administrative body of senior high-ranking uniformed military leaders of the unified Pakistan Armed Forces who advises the civilian Government of Pakistan, National Security Council, ...
.
Since 1972, there have been 14 four-star rank admirals appointed as chiefs of naval staff by statute. The Prime Minister, with the President's confirmation, approved the nomination and appointment of the Chief of Naval Staff.
The leadership of the navy is based in the
Navy NHQ located in the vicinity of
Air AHQ, and
Army GHQ staff offices that form that
JS HQ in the
Rawalpindi District, Punjab, Pakistan.
The CNS controls the navy, assisted by the civilians from the Navy Secretariat-III of the
Ministry of Defence (MoD).
The Chief of Naval Staff exercises its responsibility of completing operational, training and logistics commands.
The CNS has several principal staff officers and controls the navy through seven principle staff commands directed by its appointed Deputy Chiefs of Naval Staff.
*
DCNS Operations
*
DCNS Supply
*
DCNS Training and Personal
*
DCNS Projects
*
DCNS Materials
*
DCNS Administration
*
DCNS Welfare and Housing
List of Chiefs of the Naval Staff
The following is a list of Admirals who have served as either Commander-in-Chief or the Chief of the Naval Staff of the Pakistan Navy.
Naval Commanders-in-Chief, Pakistan Navy
Chiefs of the Naval Staff (CNS) of Pakistan Navy
See also
*
Pakistan Navy
*
Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (Pakistan)
*
List of Pakistan Navy admirals
*
Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (Pakistan)
The Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) ( ur, ) is, in principle, the highest-ranking and senior most uniformed military officer, typically at four-star rank, in the Pakistan Armed Forces who serves as a Principal Staff Officer and ...
*
Chief of Army Staff (Pakistan)
The Chief of Army Staff ( ur, , Salar afwaj barri pakistan) ( reporting name: COAS), is the most senior officer in the Pakistan Army. It is one of the most powerful positions in Pakistan.
This is the senior most appointment in the Pakistan A ...
*
Chief of Air Staff (Pakistan)
The Chief of Air Staff ( ur, ) (reporting name: CAS) is a military appointment and a statutory office held by an Air Chief Marshal in the Pakistan Air Force, who is appointed by the Prime Minister of Pakistan and final confirmation by the Pr ...
*
Chief of General Staff (Pakistan)
Chief of General Staff (abbreviated as CGS) is the most coveted position within the Pakistan Army after that of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS). Although four-star Chief of Army Staff (COAS) is the head of the land forces, CGS is "the organisat ...
References
External links
Official website of Pakistan Navy
{{Chief of the navy by country
1
Pakistan Navy admirals
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 243 million people, and has the world's second-lar ...
Pakistani military appointments