ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Navy on Tuesday announced promotions of three top officials of its operations branch from the rank of rear admirals to vice admirals to fill in the operational slots as Deputy Chiefs of Naval Staff.
The promoted officers include Rear Admirals Muhammad Shafiq, Muhammad Zakaullah and Shafqat Jawed.
Vice Admiral Muhamamd Shafiq has been appointed ad Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Administration), Vice Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah has been appointed as Commander Pakistan Fleet while Vice Admiral Shafqat Jawed has assumed charge as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Projects). The three officers were promoted with immediate effect, an official statement said.
During over past two years, from January 1 till yesterday, Pakistan Navy’s eight rear admirals including the incumbent Naval Chief Admiral Asif Sandela as well as the newly promoted three officers, have seen promotions from rear admirals to vice admirals rank. The remaining four officers are: DCNS (Projects 2) Vice Admiral Tanveer Faiz, Chief of Staff (COS) Vice Admiral Tayyab Ali Dogar, Commander Karachi (COMKAR) Vice Admiral Abbas Raza and Commander Logistics (COMLOG) Vice Admiral Khalid Amin.
According to Pakistan Navy, Vice Admiral Muhammad Shafiq was commissioned in the Navy’s operations branch in June 1977. He has served on many important command and staff appointments including 2nd-in-command of a destroyer, command of naval air wing and naval aviation. Vice Admiral Shafiq’s major staff appointments include deputy director at JSHQ, director maritime affairs at NHQ, DDG PMSA, drafting authority, directing staff at NDU, chief inspector (Navy) and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Projects-2). He has been awarded sitara-e-imtiaz (military) and hilal-e-imtiaz (military).
Vice Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah was commissioned in the operations branch of Pakistan Navy in June 1978. He is a recipient of the Sword of Honour. On his graduation, he was awarded Chief of The Naval Staff Gold Medal. The vice admiral is a graduate of Royal Naval Staff College (UK) and National Defence University Islamabad. He holds MA (Defence Studies) degree from London University and MSc (War Studies) degree from Quaid-e-Azam University. He has commanded the destroyer Tippu Sultan, Pakistan Naval Academy and the 25th destroyer squadron. His other appointments include directing staff PN Staff College, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Plans) and Defence Attaché in Qatar.  Zaka has been awarded president’s award for pride of performance, president’s medal, Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (military), sitara-e-Imtiaz (military) and Hilal-e-Imtiaz (military).
Rear Admiral Shafqat Jawed got commission in the operations branch of Pakistan Navy in June 1978. The vice admiral has served at various command and staff appointments including commanding officer Shahjahan, directing staff at PN war college, director naval operations at NHQ, director operations and plans JSHQ, assistant chief of the naval staff (operations), commander auxiliary and mine warfare squadron, mission commander at China, additional secretary at ministry of defence, flag officer sea training and deputy chief of naval staff (Operations). Shafqats’ professional courses include naval command course and national defence course. He has been awarded sitara-e-imtiaz (military).