General Knowledge

Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Baber Sidhu has emphasized the modernization of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and air defence capabilities as a key priority during his tenure, rather than focusing solely on pilot training, ground operations, or naval integration.

The current Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force is Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu. He has been leading the Pakistan Air Force since March 19, 2021, and is the formal head under whose leadership the Pakistan Air Force Foundation Day is celebrated. This is confirmed by multiple recent news sources including Dawn and Geo News.

As of 2026, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of Pakistan, Field Marshal Asim Munir, also holds the additional charge of Chief of Defence Forces (CDF). This position was created under the 27th Constitutional Amendment, abolishing the previous Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) role and consolidating the command of the army, navy, and air force under the CDF, who concurrently serves as the COAS. The other options listed (Chairman JCSC only, Defence Secretary, Chief of Naval Staff) are distinct positions and are not held concurrently by the COAS.

The Naval Headquarters (NHQ) of Pakistan is located in Karachi, which is the main naval base and headquarters for the Pakistan Navy.

Field Marshal Asim Munir was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal on 20 May 2025. This promotion was approved by the federal cabinet and took immediate effect through a Ministry of Defence notification. The rank of Field Marshal is a rare five-star rank in Pakistan, previously held only by General Mohammad Ayub Khan. The other dates listed in the options are incorrect as the promotion did not occur in 2024 or the future years 2026 or December 2025.

Admiral Naveed Ashraf, as the Chief of Naval Staff of Pakistan Navy, has emphasized strengthening the surface fleet and promoting indigenization to enhance naval capabilities and self-reliance. This focus aligns with recent strategic initiatives in the Pakistan Navy.

Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir was appointed as the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of Pakistan in November 2022, making option D the correct answer.

As of May 2026, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir is the current Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of Pakistan. He was appointed COAS on November 29, 2022, and his tenure was extended and reset with his appointment as the first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) under the 27th Constitutional Amendment. This restructuring allows him to serve a five-year term starting from the notification date, with the possibility of further extensions, making him the incumbent COAS in 2026. The other options are previous holders of the COAS position.

In Pakistan, the President administers the oath to the new service chiefs and reviews the parade during their formal assumption of office. This is a constitutional role of the President as the ceremonial head of state.

Admiral Naveed Ashraf is the 23rd Chief of Naval Staff of Pakistan, making option D correct. This is a factual current affairs question about the leadership of the Pakistan Navy.