Chief of Naval Staff (Pakistan)

Chief of the Naval Staff
Incumbent Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah since 2 October 2014
Seat	Naval Headquarters Islamabad, Pakistan
Formation	15 August 1947
First holder	Admiral James Wilfred Jefford (as C-in-C of Pakistan Navy)
Website	Pakistan Navy

The Chief of the Naval Staff, reporting name as CNS, is the highest-flag ranking statuary office held by the four-star rank admiral in the Pakistan Navy. The CNS is the most senior naval officer unless the four star admiral is appointed as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee who outranks the chiefs of staff of Army, Air Force, Marines, and other uniform branches.

Responsibility of defending naval interests, utilization of resources, and combat operations are vested with CNS who acts as a military adviser to the civilian leadership: President, Prime Minister, National Security Council, and Defence Minister. Appointment to the CNS comes from the nomination papers approved by the Prime Minister upon the required consultation from the President and it is a requirement for being Chief of the Naval Staff is having significant experience in joint duty assignments, which includes at least one full tour of duty in a joint duty assignment as a flag officer. In addition, the CNS is also a principal member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.

As current, the current CNS is Admiral Mohammad Zakaullah who took over on 8 October 2014.