Ghulam Safdar Butt (13 March 1928 – 1 May 2006) was the first

three-star rank Military star ranking is military terminology, used in mainly English speaking countries, to describe general and flag officers. Within NATO's armed forces, the stars are equal to OF-6–10. Star ranking One-star A one-star rank is usual ...

General in the Corps of engineers of the Pakistan Army. He also held the honour of being the first PhD of the Pakistan army.

Military career

He was commissioned in the

Pakistan Army The Pakistan Army (, ), commonly known as the Pak Army (), is the Land warfare, land service branch and the largest component of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The president of Pakistan is the Commander-in-chief, supreme commander of the army. The ...

in 1950 after graduating from the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA). He was part of the first PMA Long Course which was the first course to graduate from the PMA that was selected, trained and graduated in Pakistan after its partition from India in 14 August 1947. He had an illustrious career starting from Professorship at the Military College of Engineering, Professor of Highways, Airfields, Soil and Foundation engineering, integral work on the Karakorum Highway KKH, Platoon Commander at PMA,

Director General A director general, general director or director-general (plural: ''directors general'', ''general directors'', ''directors-general'', ''director generals'' or ''director-generals'') is a senior executive officer, often the chief executive officer ...

Frontier Works Organization The Frontier Works Organization (); abbreviated as FWO), is a military engineering organization, and one of the major science and technology commands of the Pakistan Army. Commissioned and established in 1966, the FWO includes active duty office ...

Lowari Tunnel Organization (LTO), Managing Director Pak Arab Refinery Co (PARCO), Chairman

Water & Power Development Authority The Pakistan Water & Power Development Authority (), colloquially known as WAPDA, is a Pakistani government-owned public utility agency maintaining hydropower and water in Pakistan, although it does not manage thermal power plants. WAPDA includes ...

(WAPDA), Chairma
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)
Chairman National Highway Authority (NHA) and finally Chairman Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL)] were some of the prestigious posts held by him in his career.

Post retirement work

He was President (corporate title), President of the

Pakistan Cricket Board The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), formerly known as Board of Control for Cricket in Pakistan (BCCP), is a sports governing body for cricket in Pakistan responsible for controlling and organising all tours and matches undertaken by the Pakistan ...

, serving in the position from February 1984 to February 1988. He was a founding member, Secretary General and President (corporate title), President of the

Alpine Club of Pakistan The Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) is a non governmental sports organisation for the promotion of mountaineering, climbing and other mountain-related adventure activities in Pakistan. In addition to this, the club serves as the national sports gov ...

Death

A passionate mountaineer, he died on May 1, 2006, after an aggressive bout with a brain tumor at the age of 78, and was buried the same day.

References

1928 births 2006 deaths Pakistan Army lieutenant generals Pakistan Cricket Board Presidents and Chairmen Pakistani military engineers Pakistani people of Kashmiri descent {{Pakistan-cricket-bio-stub