KARACHI: Vice Admiral Mohammad Amjad Khan Niazi assumed office as Karachi Commander while Vice Admiral Asif Khaliq took over as Pakistan Fleet Commander in separate ceremonies held at the Pakistan Navy Dockyard and PNS Bahadur on Friday.

Upon assumption of command, Vice Admiral Niazi is now the commander of all training units of the Pakistan Navy in Karachi. Whereas, Vice Admiral Khaliq is now the Operational Commander of Pakistan Navy’s fleet, including ships, fast attack craft (missile), submarines and aviation units.

Vice Admiral Mohammad Amjad Khan Niazi joined Pakistan Navy in 1983. Also a recipient of the Sword of Honour, the officer has an illustrious career with wide-ranging experience of various command and staff appointments. His major command appointments include commanding officer of PNS Badr, commanding officer of PNS Tariq, commander 18th Destroyer Squadron, commandant PNS Bahadur and commandant Pakistan Navy War College, Lahore. His distinguished staff appointments include director naval operations, principal secretary to Chief of the Naval Staff, director general naval intelligence, deputy chief of the naval staff (training and evaluation) at the Naval Headquarters and chief naval overseer (China).

He is a graduate of the Army Command and Staff College, Quetta and National Defence University, Islamabad. The officer has been awarded Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military) and Sitara-i-Basalat by the Government of Pakistan and French Medal Chevalier (knight) by the Government of France. Prior to assuming the command as Commander Karachi, he was serving as Commander Pakistan Fleet.

Vice Admiral Asif Khaliq also joined Pakistan Navy in 1983. His major command appointments include commanding officer of PNS Babur, commanding officer of PNS Khaibar, commandant PNS Bahadur and director general Naval Intelligence and commander of 18th Destroyer Squadron. He has also commanded Combined Task Force-150. His distinguished staff appointments include deputy director naval warfare and operational plans, assistant chief of the naval staff (plans), principal secretary to Chief of the Naval Staff, deputy chief of naval staff (admin) at the Naval Headquarters.

Vice Admiral Asif Khaliq has also served as Army and Naval attaché of Pakistan in Paris. He is a graduate of Pakistan Navy War College and National Defence University, Islamabad. The Admiral has been awarded Hilal-i-Imtiaz (military), and National Order of Merit by the Government of France. Before assuming the command as the Pakistan Fleet commander, he was serving as Karachi Commander.

During the change of command ceremonies, the officers were presented with a guard of honour and were introduced to the commanding officers of units under their respective commands.

The ceremonies were attended by a large number of Pakistan Navy officers, CPOs/sailors and navy civilians.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2019