- Field Marshal Munir will simultaneously serve as COAS, CDF.
- Titles unified under Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill.
- The federal government will determine the duties and responsibilities of the CDF.
ISLAMABAD: Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir will be officially styled as Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) along with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) from today, The news rreported Friday.
The change will be mentioned in all official documents, military references and media reports with the Unified Office of the Chief of Defense Forces and the Chief of Army Staff.
The unification of the title comes as President Asif Ali Zardari on November 15 gave his assent to the Pakistan Army, Air Force and Navy Amendment Bills, 2025 after their approval by Parliament.
Under the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, the COAS will concurrently serve as the Chief of Defense Force for five years. Field Marshal Munir’s tenure will resume from the date of issue of the new notification.
The provisions of article 243 applicable to a marshal will also apply to a general promoted to rank. The Federal Government may authorize the Vice Chief of Army Staff or the Deputy Chief of Army Staff to exercise the powers of the COAS, pursuant to written orders issued on the recommendation of the CDF.
The legislation further clarifies that once the first notification for dual tenure is issued, the tenure of the serving COAS will be deemed to have started again from the date of such notification.
The Federal Government will now determine the duties and responsibilities of the CDF, including multi-domain integration, restructuring and ensuring jointness within the armed forces.
A major structural change approved in the bill is the elimination of the position of chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCSC), which will be replaced by the commander of the National Strategic Command.
The Prime Minister may appoint the Commander from among the generals serving in the Pakistan Army for a term of three years, on the recommendation of the COAS/CDF.
Besides, the post of CJCSC ceased to exist under the 27th Constitutional Amendment – with General (retd) Sahir Shamshad Mirza retiring on Wednesday as the last CJCSC in the country.
