Ahmad Zamir

Ahmad Zamir
Managing Director of Karachi Shipyard and Engineering
In office
1983 – 1985
Secretary of Defence Productions
In office
19 April 1981 – 8 August 1982
Preceded byTariq Mustafa
Succeeded byAbdul Majid Mufti
Personal details
BornZamir Ahmad
(1930-04-30)30 April 1930
Delhi, India
Died9 September 1985(1985-09-09) (aged 55)[1]
Karachi, Pakistan
Resting placeMilitary cemetery in Karachi
CitizenshipPakistan
RelationsKhurshid Ahmad
(younger brother)
Military service
Allegiance Pakistan
Branch/service Pakistan Navy
Years of service1950-1985
RankVice Admiral
(PN No. 325)[2]
UnitExecutive Branch
CommandsDCNS(Ops)
Commander Pakistan Fleet
Naval Intelligence
CO Pakistan Marines East
Battles/warsIndo-Pakistani War of 1965
Bangladesh Liberation War
AwardsHilal-i-Imtiaz
Sitara-i-Jurat

Ahmad Zamir (Urdu: احمد ضمير; 30 April 1930 – 9 September 1985), HI(M), SJ was a three-star rank admiral in the Pakistan Navy. Prior to his death in 1985, he was serving as the managing director of Karachi Shipyard and Engineering from 1983 until 1985.

Biography

Zamir's younger brother, Khurshid Ahmad is a well known economist and a political figure in the country.[3] Despite his family's strict religious adherence, Zamir, in the Navy, was nonetheless described as moderate person.[4]: 185–187 

He attended a technical college in Delhi.[5]: 77  His family emigrated to Pakistan after the partition of India on 14 August 1947.[5]: 79  He transferred to Forman Christian College in Lahore, then attended NED University of Engineering and Technology in Karachi. However, he left his studies without completing the B.E. program. He was selected for the Pakistan Navy.[5]: 77 

He was sent to the United Kingdom as a cadet in 1950. Four year later he returned and became a Lieutenant in the Navy.[5]: 77  His career in the Navy progressed well, and participated in the second war with India in 1965 as Lieutenant-Commander, and was later trained at the Pakistan Military Academy in 1966–68.[4]: 187  In 1969, Cdr Zamir was posted in East-Pakistan where he was instrumental in setting up the Pakistan Marines's battalions with the elements of the Baloch Regiment.[4]: 187  In 1970, Captain Zamir was made commanding officer of the Pakistan Marines.[6]

After the Pakistan Eastern Command surrendered at the end of the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971, he spent three years as a prisoner of war.[5]: 78  In 1974, Captain Zamir was repatriated to Pakistan from Zero Point under the agreement signed with India. He continued his military service with the Navy, and was appointed as Director-General of Naval Intelligence with the rank of Commodore in 1975–77.[7]: 249  In 1977, Cdre Zamir was appointed as DCNS of Operations (DCNS(Ops)), and later elevated as Chief of Staff under naval chief, Admiral Karamat Rahman Niazi, in 1979.[7]: 250–251 

As of 1979, Rear-Admiral Zamir was Commander Pakistan Fleet (COMPAK).[8]: 378  Vice-Admiral Ahmad served as the Secretary of Defence Production from April 1981 until August 1982.[9] By October 1984, he was the managing director of Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works.[10]

According to his brother, Khurshid Ahmad, Zamir was in the running for Chief of the Pakistan Navy when he died in 1985.[5]: 78 

See also

References

  1. ^ Junejo, Muhammad Khan. Messages and Interviews. Vol. II. Directorate of Films & Publications, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of Pakistan. p. 68. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  2. ^ Shabbir, Usman. "List of Gallantry Awardees – PN Officers/CPOs/Sailors « PakDef Military Consortium". pakdef.org. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  3. ^ Esposito, John L.; Voll, John O. (2001). Makers of Contemporary Islam. Oxford University Press. p. 41. ISBN 0-19-514128-8. Khurshid Ahmad's years at Government College in Karachi ... Three fellow students were ...; and Khurshid's older brother, Zamir, who studied science and then rose to the rank of vice-admiral in Pakistan's navy, prior to his death in 1985.
  4. ^ a b c Akhtar, Haq Nawaz (2007). If truth be told: an alternative history of Pakistan. Karachi, Sindh, Pk: Sang-i Meel Publications. ISBN 978-969-35-1951-8.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Hasan, Mahbabul (March 2011). "Meeting with History: A Conversation with Prof. Khurshid Ahmad" (PDF). www.asafas.kyoto-u.ac.jp. University of Kyoto, Japan. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  6. ^ Zaheer, Hasan (1995). The separation of East Pakistan : the rise and realization of Bengali Muslim Nationalism (2. impr. ed.). Karachi [u.a.]: Oxford University Press. p. 363. ISBN 0-19-577492-2. "4 December [1971] East Pakistan: Dhaka ... and the Naval Captain Zamir were also present and having coffee.
  7. ^ a b Sirohey, Iftikhar Ahmed (1995). Truth Never Retires: An Autobiography of Admiral Iftikhar Ahmed Sirohey (1st ed.). Karachi, Pk: Jang Publishers.
  8. ^ Jane, Frederick Thomas (1979). Jane's Fighting Ships. S. Low, Marston & Company. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  9. ^ "List of ex-Secretaries Defence Production". Ministry of Defence Production. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  10. ^ Zamir, Ahmad (13–19 October 1984). "Karachi Shipyard leads in manufacturing of sugar mills and machinery". Pakistan & Gulf Economist. p. 27. Retrieved 10 August 2017.