He specialised as Principal Warfare Officer from UK. He did Naval Command and Staff Course from Indonesia and M.Sc (War Studies) from National Defence College, Islamabad. He has held various command and staff appointments on operational sea billets, he has commanded Pakistan Navy destroyer PNS BADR and has also commanded 25th destroyer Squadron of Pakistan Navy.
On staff side, he has served as Divisional Officer and Training Commander at Pakistan Naval Academy and Fleet Operations Officer to Commander Pakistan Fleet. At Naval Headquarters, he was assigned the duties of Flag Lieutenant to Chief of the Naval Staff. Director Project (Plans), Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Plans) and Principal Secretary to Chief of the Naval Staff. Director Project (Plans), Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Plans) and Principal Secretary to Chief of the Naval Staff.
He was promoted to Flag rank in November 2005. As Flag Officer, he has headed the operations and project branches of PN in the capacity of Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Operations) and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Projects) at Naval Headquarters Islamabad.
In the field, he has been DG Maritime Security Agency and Commander Pakistan Fleet before taking over his present appointment as Commander Logistics, Pakistan Navy. He is recipient of the award of Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military) and "Chevalier de l' order National Due Merit" for rescue of French national in Maldives during Tsunami in December 2004.
Rear Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi SI(M) joined Pakistan Navy in 1971 as Naval Cadet. After completion of initial training he was selected for training at Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth in UK. Upon commissioning in June 1981, he was awarded the coveted Sword of Honour. He has also served as Executive Officer of a Type-21 Frigate.
He was selected as the commissioning Commanding Officer of the first ever indigenously built Tripartite Mine Hunter PNS Mujahid, and has also performed the duties of Commander 21st Mine Warfare Squadron. From November 2001 to August 2003 he commanded a Type-21 Destroyer PNS Khaibar.
He has also served as Commandant Pakistan Naval Academy. From November 2005 to April 2007 he commended 25th Destroyer Squadron. His important start appointments include service as Fleet Torpedo and Ant Submarine Officer and Director Naval Warfare and Operational Plans. ACNS(O) an ACNS (Plans) at Naval Headquarters.
He did his specialisation in Under water Warfare from Pakistan and Surface Warfare from USA. He is graduate of Royal Australian Naval Staff College and qualified Armed Forces War Course form National Defence University, Islamabad. Presently, Rear Admiral Abbasi is serving as Chief Inspector (Navy) at Naval Headquarters, Islamabad. He is married and has a son and two daughters.