Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi joined the Pakistan Navy in 1978 and has served the Pakistan Navy in various capacities
On the advice of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, the President has appointed Vice Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi as new Chief of Naval Staff in place of Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah.
The change of command ceremony will be held on 07th October at PNS Zafar, Islamabad where Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi will take charge. The current Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah will be completing his tenure on October 6, 2017.
Vice Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi joined the Pakistan Navy in 1978 and is top on the seniority list after Admiral Zakaullah, His promotion to the rank of Admiral will be effective from the date of assuming command.
He gained commissioned in the Navy as a lieutenant in 1981 after graduating from the Pakistan Naval Academy and being conferred the Sword of Honour, and did his initial training at the Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth in United Kingdom.
He is also a graduate of the Royal Australian Naval College, attending it in 1989, and has done his BS and MSc from the National Defence University.
He has served the Pakistan Navy in various capacities. In recognition of his meritorious services, the Admiral has been awarded Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military).
He served the force as an executive officer in a Tariq-class destroyer. He also appointed as commander 25th Destroyer Squadron, DG Pakistan Maritime Security Agency, commander Coast, commander Logistics, commander Pakistan Fleet and Command of Multi-National Combined Task Force 150 at HQ NAVCENT, Bahrain.
In 2014, Abbasi was in the race to be appointed as a four-star admiral and take over the command of the Navy as its Chief of Naval Staff, alongside with Vice-Admiral Khan Hasham bin Saddique and Vice-Admiral S. A. Hussaini.
The outgoing Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah meet to Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat at the Joint Staff Headquarters, Rawalpindi.
General Zubair Mahmood Hayat acknowledged and highly praised the remarkable services of Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah as the naval chief.
On the occasion, Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah thanked chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee for his gratitude and well wishes.