ISLAMABAD: Zafar Mahmood Abbasi will succeed Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah as Chief of the Naval Staff on Saturday (Oct 7) upon the latter’s retirement, according to a notification issued by the Presidency.

President Mamnoon Hussain promoted Vice Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi to the rank of admiral on Tuesday and appointed him the Pakistan Navy chief.

The appointment was made on the advice of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

The change of command ceremony will be held at PNS Zafar, Islamabad.

Admiral Abbasi was commissioned in the navy’s operations branch in June 1981. He got training at Britain’s Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.

He won the coveted Sword of Honour from the Pakistan Naval Academy after getting his commission.

He has headed a number of organisations, including the Pakistan Naval Academy and the Maritime Security Agency. During his posting in Bahrain, Admiral Abbasi held command of a multi-national combined task force.

His key staff appointments include Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Plans), Chief Inspector (Navy) and Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (Operations). At present he is serving as the Chief of Staff at Naval Headquarters.

The flag officer is a graduate of Islamabad’s National Defence University and the Royal Australian Navy Staff College.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2017