The distinguished Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf was awarded the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) by President Dr Arif Alvi during a ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr, Islamabad, this Friday.
The Caretaker, Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, service chiefs, General Asim Munir, and other high-ranking officials were present. The transition of command to Admiral Ashraf as the 23rd naval chief of Pakistan was officiated last week, a responsibility passed on by his predecessor, Admiral Amjad Khan Niazi, in a separate Islamabad ceremony.
Admiral Naveed Ashraf’s Distinguished Career
Commissioned into the Operations Branch of the Pakistan Navy in 1989, Admiral Ashraf’s introduction to the Navy saw him completing his initial training in Germany and Pakistan. This feat earned him the Quaid-e-Azam Gold Medal.
Admiral Ashraf held many command and staff positions throughout his notable naval tenure. His extensive command experience, stretching over a decade, ranged from leading gunboats and mine hunters to spearheading three destroyers and the 25th and 18th destroyer squadrons. Moreover, he has been at the helm of the Pakistan Naval Academy and proudly commanded the Pakistan Navy Fleet.
Key Appointments and Awards
Admiral Ashraf’s service trajectory includes prominent roles like fleet operations officer, captain training, naval secretary, and various deputy chief positions. His academic credentials are equally impressive, boasting of graduations from institutions like the Pakistan Navy War College, National Defence University, Naval Staff College in the USA, and the Royal College of Defence Studies in the UK.
Admiral Ashraf has previously been decorated with the Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military) and the Tamgha-e-Basalat for his outstanding contributions.