- Federal cabinet with PM in chair approves major amendments to Army, Air Force and Navy Acts
- New office of Chief of Defence Forces created as CJCSC post to end after current tenure
- Amendments align military laws with constitutional changes under Article 243
- New honorary ranks introduced—Field Marshal, Marshal of the Air Force, Admiral of the Fleet
- Federal Constitutional Court Procedure and Practice Act 2025 also approved
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Government on Thursday approved a comprehensive set of legislative amendments to harmonize the country’s defence laws with the recently enacted 27th Constitutional Amendment—a move aimed at modernizing Pakistan’s military command structure in line with contemporary operational and constitutional requirements.
The Federal Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at the Parliament House, gave its nod to major revisions in the Pakistan Army Act, the Pakistan Air Force Act, and the Pakistan Navy Act, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a news release.
The amendments seek to align the legal framework governing the armed forces with the new provisions introduced under Article 243 of the Constitution.
A landmark decision approved under the prime minister’s leadership included the creation of the office of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), with a defined tenure, while the post of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee will cease to exist after the retirement of the incumbent.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chairs the Federal Cabinet Meeting. pic.twitter.com/wsqe13DNCi
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) November 13, 2025
The updated legislation also introduces new honorary ranks—field marshal, marshal of the air force, and admiral of the fleet—reflecting Pakistan’s adaptation to evolving military hierarchies and operational demands.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that these reforms form part of a broader national agenda to strengthen institutional coordination and ensure that Pakistan’s defense structure remains attuned to modern warfare requirements and international standards.
وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف کی زیر صدارت وفاقی کابینہ کے اجلاس میں متعلقہ قوانین کو ستائیسویں آئینی ترمیم سے ہم آہنگ کرنے کے حوالے سے اہم فیصلے
وفاقی کابینہ نے پاکستان آرمی ایکٹ، پاکستان ایئر فورس ایکٹ اور پاکستان نیوی ایکٹ میں ترامیم کی منظوری دے دی۔ آئین کے آرٹیکل 243 میں جو… pic.twitter.com/CvKsqYUq2o
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) November 13, 2025
In other decisions, the Federal Cabinet also approved the draft Federal Constitutional Court (Procedure and Practice) Act, 2025, which outlines the framework and procedures for the newly proposed constitutional judicial body.
The Cabinet further ratified the decisions of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) taken during its meeting on November 7, 2025.
NA passes four key bills
Earlier, the National Assembly on Thursday passed four significant bills — the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill 2025, Pakistan Air Force (Amendment) Bill 2025, Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill 2025, and the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) (Amendment) Bill 2025.
Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif introduced the three defense-related amendment bills, all of which were passed with a majority vote.
Similarly, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar tabled the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure (Amendment) Bill 2025, which also secured majority approval.
The law minister clarified that these were not new legislations but necessary amendments to existing laws to bring them into conformity with the 27th Constitutional Amendment. He noted that all bills had been duly approved by the Federal Cabinet prior to being laid before the House.
Azam Nazeer Tarar congratulated former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, MQM-P, PML-Q, and other coalition partners for their support and consensus on the historic reform package.
He also congratulated the nation on the passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, terming it a milestone in Pakistan’s democratic and institutional evolution.
