Pakistan's army chief General Asim Munir will be promoted to the rank of field marshal, the prime minister's office said in a statement on Tuesday, the first time in almost 60 years that a general has been elevated to the role.

Pakistan’s prime minister has promoted the country’s powerful army chief, Gen. Asim Munir, to the rank of field marshal, making him only the second military officer in Pakistan’s history to hold the title.

Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir received the Baton of Field Marshal during a grand ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif jointly awarded the honor.