Pakistan’s new navy chief, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, took charge of the country’s naval force on Saturday after a change of command ceremony was held at the PNS Zafar in the capital city.
Pakistan Navy announced Ashraf’s appointment on Tuesday as the country’s 23rd naval chief, saying that he would be promoted to the rank of admiral on Saturday. During the televised change of command ceremony, outgoing Pakistan Navy chief Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi handed over the reins of the navy to his successor and wished him luck.
“As I hand over the command of the navy to Admiral Ashraf, I wish him the best of luck and a rewarding tenure in office,” Niazi said during his farewell address.
“The admiral has a distinguished career, studded with notable achievements and I am sure he would prove to be an able and worthy successor who will lead the navy to new heights, God willing.”Niazi said Pakistan’s navy stands as a “vital arm” of the country’s armed forces, adding that it has also emerged as an effective contributor toward the socio-economic uplift of the country nationally and internationally.
Ashraf was commissioned in the Operations Branch of the Pakistan Navy in 1989. He is a graduate of the National Defense University in Islamabad, the US Naval War College, and the UK’s Royal College of Defense Studies.
According to Radio Pakistan, Ashraf has “vast experience” of working in key command and staff positions and before his appointment as navy chief, was serving as chief of staff at the Naval Headquarters. Ashraf has been awarded prestigious Pakistani medals Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military) and Tamgha-i-Basalat for his professional services and courage.
