Pakistan's federal cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, approved the draft Defence Forces Act 2026 and amendments to the National Command Authority Act 2010 on Thursday.
The proposed legislation details the operational and administrative frameworks governing the newly created office of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).
What is the purpose of the Defence Forces Act 2026?
The Defence Forces Act 2026 functions as a statutory continuation of the structural reforms introduced under the 27th Constitutional Amendment. The draft law establishes administrative provisions, operational responsibilities, and organizational guidelines for the Chief of Defence Forces Headquarters.
The 27th Constitutional Amendment unified tri-services coordination by creating the CDF post while replacing the former office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. Following cabinet sanction, the government will table the draft bill in Parliament for legislative debate and final enactment.
Why was the National Command Authority Act amended?
The cabinet also approved corresponding amendments to the National Command Authority Act 2010 to align statutory regulations with the updated military command hierarchy. The legislative updates streamline legal references within national strategic command protocols while maintaining existing oversight structures chaired by the Prime Minister.
Updating the 2010 Act resolves administrative overlaps between service branches and the Strategic Plans Division. Both legislative drafts are slated for presentation before Parliament during the ongoing legislative session.
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