President Asif Ali Zardari conferred the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) on Commander National Strategic Command (NSC) General Syed Aamer Raza at a ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and the services chiefs attended the investiture ceremony.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gillani, federal ministers, senior civil and military officials and ambassadors from several countries were also present.

General Aamer Raza was promoted to the rank of four-star general and appointed Commander of the National Strategic Command by PM Shehbaz on July 24.

His appointment followed the creation of the new four-star post of Commander National Strategic Command, a position tasked with overseeing Pakistan’s nuclear command and strategic forces.

The development came after Field Marshal Asim Munir was appointed the country’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) for a five-year term.

The CDF position was created under the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which abolished the office of chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), formally ending it on November 27, 2025.

Under the revised command structure, the CDF combines the responsibilities previously held by the CJCSC chairman with those of the Chief of Army Staff.

The appointment of the NSC commander was another key change under the revised structure. Under amended Article 243 of the Constitution, the commander is appointed by the prime minister on the recommendation of the chief of army staff.