Muhammad Zakaullah

Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah
290px Adm. Zakaullah (right) PN.
Nickname(s)	Zak
Allegiance	Pakistan
Service/branch	Pakistan Navy
Years of service	1975 –
Rank	Admiral
Unit	Naval Operation Branch
Commands held	DCNS Naval Operations CTF-150 25th Destroyer Squadron Defence Attache, Pakistan Embassy, Doha Commander Pakistan Fleet
Battles/wars	2001 India-Pakistan standoff War in North-West Pakistan 2013 India-Pakistan border incident
Awards	Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military) Tamgha-e-Imtiaz Pride of Performance Sword of Honour

Muhammad Zakaullah (Urdu: محمد ذكاءالله; HI(M), SI(M), TI(M)), is an active four-star rank admiral and the current Chief of Naval Staff of the Pakistan Navy having been promoted to the four-star assignment on 2 October 2014. He has served on several prestigious operational and staff positions in the Pakistan Navy. His last appointment before becoming Chief of the Naval Staff was that of Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.

Zakaullah is also an avid sportsman, having been decorated by President of Pakistan with Pride of Performance for outstanding performance in yachting.

Biography

Academia

Zakaullah attended Cadet College Hasan Abdal (17th entry, Iqbal Wing, cadet captain) and later joined the Pakistan Naval Academy in 1975 and graduated with BA in 1978, winning coveted Sword of Honour earning commission in the operation branch. He earned master's degree from Royal Naval Staff College in the United Kingdom and attended the London University where he obtained MA in Defence studies and MSc in War studies from Quaid-e-Azam University. Upon returning to Pakistan, he joined the faculty of and National Defence University to teach war studies.

Career in navy

He started his active duty as a qualified Principle Warfare officer (PWO) in Babur warship and was later promoted as executive officer of the Tippu-Sultan warship which he would later command as well. As Commodore, he briefly served in the National Accountability Bureau during the regime of Pervez Musharraf. His key military assignments and staff appointments include the command of 25th Destroyer Squadron and Combined Task Force-150 in Arabian sea. His last assignment included command of the Pakistan Naval Fleet as its senior commander.

On the height of border escalation with India, he reportedly responded to the incident to media that, Pakistan has ability to answer the disturbance of border. In an emergency address to the media representatives at the ISPR directorate, he quoted to the media that "Pakistan forces are prepared for any critical situation." Answering the question of Indian Army's further capabilities, Admiral Zakaullah said that Pakistan was not concerned due to New Delhi's ground capability as it had the ability to defend itself against any aggression. He is on military assignment of Deputy Chief of Naval Staff of Naval Operations, as of 2013.

Sportsmanship

He is a keen yachtsman and has represented Pakistan at numerous international events, including 1984 Olympics and Asian Games of 1986 and 1990. He has won Gold medal at the Asian Games twice. He is also a recipient of President's Award for Pride of Performance for outstanding performance in yachting.

External links

• CTF 150 Handover ceremony

Military offices
Preceded by Asif Sandila	Chief of Naval Staff 2014 – Present	Incumbent