Decision comes in recognition of CJCSC's illustrious services for defence of the country. PHOTO: PID
The award was conferred in a special investiture ceremony held at the President House in Islamabad on Thursday, according to a statement.
The ceremony was attended by Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, including other senior military and civil officers.
General Raza was appointed CJCSC in November last year following the retirement of four-star general Zubair Mahmood Hayat.
The post in theory is the highest military position since the CJCSC is technically head of the three armed forces.
However, unlike many other countries, in Pakistan the army chief is the most powerful while the CJCSC acts for promoting better coordination among the three forces. He also advises the government on the issues of national security and defence.
Gen Nadeem Raza assumes charge as CJCSC
In the past, the CJCSC was also picked from the navy and the air force but that practice has been discontinued long ago.
Gen Nadeem Raza was corps commander Rawalpindi before being appointed as the Chief of General Staff at the General Headquarter in Rawalpindi, considered the most important position after the army chief, in August last year.
As CGS, who heads both intelligence and operational wings of the army, he worked closely with the army chief. He was commissioned in 1985 and is from infantry’s 10 Sindh Regiment. He is a graduate of the Command and Staff College Quetta and the National Defence University (NDU) Islamabad.
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