ISLAMABAD, Oct 3: The government announced on Thursday that President Gen Musharraf has appointed Vice-Admiral Shahid Karimullah as chief of the naval staff and promoted him to the rank of admiral.

Mr Karimullah will take over the command from the retiring Admiral Abdul Aziz Mirza on Monday at a ceremony at the PNS Zafar Ground, Naval Complex.

He joined the navy operations branch in 1965. He is a communication specialist, a graduate of the US War College and Armed Forces War Course from National Defence College.

He commanded two destroyers, the 25th Destroyer Squadron and the Fleet.

He was wounded, while commanding a gunboat, in the 1971 war and was awarded Sitara-i-Jurrat.

He was promoted to the rank of vice-admiral while holding the present appointment as Pakistan Fleet commander. He is also a recipient of Sitara-i-Imtiaz (military) and Hilal-i-Imtiaz (military).