Defence Minister of Pakistan

The Defence Minister of Pakistan heads the Ministry of Defence, under which serve the three armed forces of the country, Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force, and Pakistan Navy. The minister serves in the cabinet of the Prime Minister, and is required to be a member of Parliament.

In the history of the country, the defence portfolio has usually been headed by the head of the government, be that the President or Prime Minister of the country. The first defence minister, not also to be the head of the government, was General Ayub Khan, then Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army. From the 1980 onwards, the defence minister became a unique personality, and presently it is considered one of the big five cabinet portfolio along with the Prime Minister, Finance Minister, Foreign Minister, Interior Minister portfolios.