ISLAMABAD: On Friday, the Ministry of Defence officially announced Field Marshal Asim Munir as Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), following President Asif Ali Zardari’s approval of the appointment based on the recommendation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Prime Minister Sharif had earlier approved the proposal to assign Field Marshal Munir dual roles as Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces before forwarding it for presidential authorization.
The establishment of the CDF position, introduced through the 27th Constitutional Amendment, signifies the replacement of the now-defunct role of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), which officially ceased to exist on November 27. The CDF role merges responsibilities with those of the army chief, forming a dual-hatted position.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Field Marshal Asim Munir will serve concurrently as Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces for a five-year term. This appointment represents the inaugural creation and occupancy of the CDF post in Pakistan’s history.
Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu gets two year extension
The service tenure of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu as head of the Pakistan Air Force has been extended for another two years, effective March 19, 2026, as per a separate notification.
The extension for ACM Sidhu was issued under Article 243 of the Constitution and Section 10B of the Air Force Act. This announcement followed approval from President Zardari upon Prime Minister Sharif’s recommendation.
ACM Sidhu, initially appointed to lead the air force in March 2021, was previously granted a one-year extension in 2024.
PM extends congratulations to Field Marshal Asim Munir
On Thursday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Field Marshal Munir on becoming Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces, emphasizing that the appointment aligns with modern warfare requirements.
In a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office, Sharif conveyed his best wishes to Munir and remarked that the new role would strengthen national defence further. He praised Munir’s leadership for enabling decisive victories against adversaries, showcasing the resilience and skill of Pakistan’s armed forces.
