President signs summary appointing Gen Asim Pakistan's first CDF

President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday signed a summary, appointing Field Marshal Asim Munir Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), 24NewsHD TV channel reported. 

According to the report, the president also signed the summary of extension of the term of the air chief. 

The extension will be effective from March 19, 2026, upon completion of the current five-year term.

The president expressed his best wishes for both officers for successful professional services.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sent a summary to President Zardari for appointing Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir as Pakistan’s first chief of defence forces (CDF).

The CDF position, created under the 27th Constitutional Amendment, will replace the now-abolished office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) chairman, which formally ended on November 27. It would be a dual-hatted position combined with the office of the army chief.

According to PM office press release, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir will be the Chief of Army Staff as well as the Chief of Defence Forces. The appointment is for a period of five years.

Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir will be the country's first Chief of Defence Forces.

Another pending decision is the appointment of the commander of the National Strategic Command, a new four-star position created to assume nuclear manager role previously exercised by CJCSC.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also approved a two-year extension in the tenure of Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu. This extension will apply to the completion of his current five-year term in March 2026.