KARACHI: Vice Admiral Faisal Rasul Lodhi assumed his responsibilities as Commander Karachi (Comkar) and Vice Admiral Zahid Ilyas took over as Commander Coast (Comcoast) in separate ceremonies held here on Monday.

On assumption of command as Comkar, Vice Admiral Faisal Rasul Lodhi is now the Commander of all Pakistan Navy establishments and training units at Karachi. Whereas Comcoast, Vice Admiral Zahid Ilyas is now the Commander of Special Service Group (Navy), Pak Marines and all PN units along the Coast and Creeks areas.

Commander Karachi, Vice Admiral Faisal Rasul Lodhi has an illustrious career with wide ranging command and staff appointments. His major command appointments include Commanding Officer of PNS Tariq, Director Pakistan Navy Tactical School and Flag Officer Sea Training. His major staff appointments include Director staff at the Pakistan Navy War College, Director Naval Warfare and Operational Plans at Naval Headquarters, Fleet Operation Officer and Chief Staff Officer to Commander Pakistan Fleet, Liaison Officer US Centcom, Naval Secretary and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Operations) at Naval Headquarters, Islamabad. The admiral has also performed duties as Additional Secretary-III in the Ministry of Defence.

Vice Admiral Faisal Rasul Lodhi is a graduate of Pakistan Navy War College Lahore, National Defence University Islamabad and has done professional courses from the United Kingdom and Philippines. He has also obtained a master’s degree in International Security & Strategic studies from the United Kingdom. Before assuming the duties as Commander Karachi, the Admiral was serving as Commander Coast. In recognition of his meritorious services, the Admiral was awarded Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military).

Commander Coast Vice Admiral Zahid Ilyas has a distinguished career with wide ranging Command and Staff appointments. His major Command appointments include Commanding Officer PNS Babur and PNS Zulfiqar, Commandant Pakistan Naval Academy, Commander 18th Destroyer Squadron and Commander Central Punjab/Commandant PN War College, Lahore.

He has also commanded Combined Task Force-151 (CTF-151) at HQ NAVCENT, Bahrain. His distinguished staff appointments include Principal Secretary to the Chief of the Naval Staff, Director General C4I and Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (Training and Evaluation) at Naval Headquarters Islamabad.

The Admiral has also served as Director General Joint Cantonment Gwadar Branch at Joint Staff Headquarters Rawalpindi. Vice Admiral Zahid Ilyas is a graduate of Pakistan Navy War College and National Defence University, Islamabad. He has also done Masters in Military Operational Research from the United Kingdom and Senior Naval Command Course from China. Before assuming the duties as Commander Coast, the Admiral was serving as Commander Karachi. In recognition of his meritorious services, the Admiral was awarded Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military) and Sitara-i-Basalat

During the separate Change of Command ceremonies, the Admirals were presented with Guard of Honour and were introduced to the Commanding Officers of units under their respective Commands.The ceremonies were attended by Pakistan Navy officers, CPOs/sailors and navy civilians.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2020