June 20, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 15, 1429

KARACHI, June 19: Rear Admiral Shahid Iqbal has taken the charge of Commander Pakistan Fleet from Vice-Admiral Noman Bashir.

As a fleet commander, Rear Admiral Shahid Iqbal will exercise full operational and administrative control over all the Pakistan Navy units comprising destroyers, submarines, missile boats and naval air firm besides other supporting establishments.

A change of command ceremony was held at the Pakistan Navy Dockyard where the outgoing commander Pakistan Fleet formally handed over the command to the newly-appointed fleet commander, says an ISPR release issued on Thursday.

The outgoing Commander Pakistan Fleet, Vice-Admiral Noman Bashir, thanked the officers and men for their unflinching support and commitment. He said that apart from normal operational duties, their persistent involvement and efforts in Maritime Coalition Campaign deserved great applause.

Rear Admiral Shahid Iqbal was commissioned in 1974 and joined the operations branch of the Pakistan Navy.—PPI