Pakistan Army is known for being one of the best and largest in the world. In 2021, Pakistan Army was ranked as the 10th most powerful in the world out of the 133 countries on the Global Firepower index. The three significant armed forces divisions in Pakistan are Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy, and Pakistan Air Force. Since there are so many ranks in Pakistan Army, with each rank official having their own set of roles, it can get quite confusing to remember these ranks.
Pakistan Army follows the same ranks that were founded by the British Army however, the construction of these positions is a little different now than it used to be in the sub-continent. In this article, we will share a list of all the ranks in the Pakistan military and what each rank means in the Pakistan Army, which is one of the most important ones in the three major divisions of the military i.e., Army, Navy, and Air Force. So, read this article to know everything about Pak Army ranks.
Pak Army positions are separated into three sections:
- Charged Officers
- Junior Commissioned Officers
- Non-Commissioned Officers
Officials and Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) wear their position emblem on the shoulders of their khaki uniform while Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) wear the rank symbol on their arms.
Pakistan Army Ranks:
- SECOND LIEUTENANT (2ND-LT):
The lowest rank of a commissioned officer in the Pakistan Army is Second Lieutenant. The position of the 2nd-LIT is usually held for 1 to 2 years by an officer and they are granted the command of around 30 soldiers. The role ad responsibility of the Second Lieutenant includes leading the infantry soldiers into battle and giving orders to the platoon sergeant who forwards them to the squad leaders and then they are given to the soldiers.
- LIEUTENANT (LT):
The next rank is Lieutenant and it is also known as ‘First Lieutenant’. The rank exhibits a little more power on the battlefield and leads specialized units or platoons. Lieutenants are also in charge of long-range weapons and fire systems.
- CAPTAIN (CAPT):
Captains have command over more than 100 soldiers with assistance from a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO). Captains can also use their skills and expertise to teach at cadet schools and training centers. It is also the highest rank where officers are expected to command and lead soldiers directly.
- MAJOR (MAJ):
Majors can be responsible for heading a task force for logistical or operational missions. They usually serve as staff officers.
- LIEUTENANT COLONEL (LT-COL):
A Lieutenant Colonel commands up to 1,000 soldiers with an experienced NCO as an assistant. They are also generally chosen as Commanding/Executive Officers for a task force.
- COLONEL (COL):
Colonels also usually serve as staff officers. They are often the communication line between the office and the battlefield. They also have the authority to provide advice on important matters to senior officials.
- BRIGADIER (BRIG):
Brigadiers, also referred to as Brigadier Generals get the choice to stay out of the battlefield to command a brigade or to lead direct operations and missions while serving as a staff officers.
- MAJOR GENERAL (MAJ-GEN):
Major General is the next rank and it is a senior one. A Major General generally leads and commands 10,000 to 15,000 soldiers and they may also be appointed to senior staff positions in the Ministry of Defense.
- LIEUTENANT GENERAL (LT-GEN):
Lieutenant General is the second-most senior level rank in Pakistan Army. A Lieutenant General commands corps units of more than 20,000 soldiers. Lieutenant Generals often also get to have a say in appointing staff in the Ministry of Defense.
- GENERAL (GEN):
General is the senior-most level of commissioned officer in the Pakistan Army. Becoming a General usually requires decades of experience and service. Generals overhead all of the operations that fall within their regional jurisdiction. The Chief of Staff of the Army is also a General.
Now that you know all about Pak Army ranks, you should also know that these ranks are fixed for Pakistan Army only. Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy officials have slightly different rankings and positions. Let’s discuss some of the top most positions in the Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Air Force.
Pakistan Navy Ranks:
- MIDSHIPMAN
- SUB LIEUTENANT (S/LT)
- LIEUTENANT (LT)
- LIEUTENANT COMMANDER (LT-CDR)
- COMMANDER (CDR)
- CAPTAIN (CAPT)
- COMMODORE (CDRE)
- REAR ADMIRAL (R-ADM)
- VICE ADMIRAL (V-ADM)
- ADMIRAL (ADM)
Pakistan Air Force Ranks:
- PILOT OFFICER (PLT-OFF)
- FLYING OFFICER (FLG-OFF)
- FLIGHT LIEUTENANT (FLT-LT)
- SQUADRON LEADER (SQN-LDR)
- WING COMMANDER (WG-CDR)
- GROUP CAPTAIN (GP-CAPT)
- AIR COMMODORE (AIR-CDRE)
- AIR VICE MARSHAL (AVM)
- AIR MARSHAL (AM)
- AIR CHIEF MARSHAL (ACM)
These are the top ranks in Pakistan Military and all of them require different years of experience and service. We hope this article cleared up some of your questions and confusions about Pak Army, Pak Navy, and Pak Air Force ranks.
