Pakistan Army Jobs 2026 – Join as Commissioned Officer through 159 PMA Long Course, Eligibility & Online Registration (joinpakarmy.gov.pk)

For thousands of young Pakistanis, the dream of wearing the uniform and serving the nation begins with a single decision — to apply for the Pakistan Army’s PMA Long Course. That opportunity is officially open right now. The Pakistan Army has announced online registration for the 159 PMA Long Course, the prestigious two-year officer training programme at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul, Abbottabad. The advertisement appeared in the Daily The News on 13 September 2026, and online registration is open at joinpakarmy.gov.pk until 23 October 2026. If you meet the eligibility criteria explained below, this is your window to join the Pakistan Army as a Commissioned Officer in 2026.

Unlike the Army’s soldier recruitment, which follows a separate cycle, the PMA Long Course is the main route for young civilians and graduates to earn a regular commission. Selected cadets spend two years at the historic PMA Kakul — often called the “Cradle of Leadership” — and graduate as Second Lieutenants. Readers weighing other uniformed careers may also want to look at the Levies Force Jobs 2026 and Punjab Police Jobs 2026 openings covered earlier on Jobzrio.

About the Pakistan Army and the PMA Long Course

The Pakistan Army

The Pakistan Army is the land warfare branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces and the largest component of the country’s military. Headquartered at GHQ Rawalpindi, it is responsible for national defence and has earned a respected name internationally through its professional standards, discipline, and contributions to United Nations peacekeeping missions. The officer corps is the backbone of this institution, and the quality of its leadership training is what makes a PMA Long Course commission one of the most sought-after career entries in Pakistan.

The Pakistan Military Academy (PMA), Kakul

Established in 1947, the Pakistan Military Academy at Kakul, Abbottabad, is the country’s premier military training institution. The PMA Long Course is its flagship two-year programme. Gentleman Cadets undergo rigorous physical, academic, and character-building training, and upon successful completion they are commissioned as Second Lieutenants. The 159 PMA Long Course is the 159th intake of this programme — a tradition that has produced the Army’s leadership for generations.

Vacant Positions

Detail	Information
Organization	Pakistan Army
Course / Entry	159 PMA Long Course (Commissioned Officers)
Training Institution	Pakistan Military Academy (PMA), Kakul, Abbottabad
Training Duration	2 years
Rank on Commissioning	Second Lieutenant
Registration Mode	Online at joinpakarmy.gov.pk
Registration Window	14 September 2026 to 23 October 2026
Gender	Male candidates only
Job Location	Pakistan (nationwide recruitment through AS&RCs)

Note: the official advertisement does not publish a fixed vacancy count for PMA Long Course intakes — selection is merit-based through the testing and ISSB process described below, rather than a quota of named seats.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

The 159 PMA Long Course accepts candidates at different education levels, as published on the Army’s official registration portal:

• Intermediate: FA / FSc / ICS / I.Com or equivalent (A-Level with IBCC equivalence) with at least 60% marks.
• Graduates (2-year degree): BA / BSc or equivalent with at least 60% marks in the degree and at least 50% marks in FA / FSc.
• Graduates (4-year programme): BS / BA (Hons) / BBA / BPA or equivalent with at least 60% marks.
• Serving Army soldiers: FA / FSc or equivalent with at least 50% marks.
• Relaxed marks: Candidates holding domicile of specified under-developed areas (including Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, FATA, and other notified districts) may apply with 55% marks in FA / FSc, subject to the domicile and study conditions given in the advertisement.
• Hope certificate: Students who passed FSc Part-I with 60% marks and are awaiting Part-II results may apply with a hope certificate from the head of their institution.

Experience Required

No prior military or professional experience is required for civilian applicants — the PMA Long Course is an entry-level officer commissioning programme. Serving Army soldiers and serving Pakistan Navy / Air Force personnel may also apply under their own eligibility bands. Selection is based on performance in the Army’s written, physical, medical, and ISSB assessments, not on work experience.

Age Limit

Age is calculated as on 1 May 2027. The age limits for the 159 PMA Long Course are:

• Intermediate (FA / FSc or equivalent): 17 to 22 years (3 months relaxation on upper and lower limits).
• Graduates (2-year degree) and serving PN / PAF personnel: 17 to 23 years (3 months relaxation).
• Graduates (4-year programme): 17 to 24 years (no relaxation).
• Serving Army soldiers: 17 to 25 years (no relaxation).

Marital status: candidates must be unmarried, except married serving personnel of the Armed Forces over 20 years of age. Candidates who have been rejected twice by the Inter-Services Selection Board (ISSB), or who appeared before ISSB within 120 days of a previous appearance, are not eligible. Dismissed or debarred government employees, and dual nationals unwilling to surrender other nationalities on final selection, are also ineligible.

Gender

The PMA Long Course is open to male candidates only. Female candidates cannot apply through this entry; the Army’s Lady Cadet Course (LCC) is the separate commissioning route for women.

Physical Standards

Physical fitness is assessed at the Army Selection and Recruitment Centres (AS&RCs) on test day. The published standards include:

• Minimum height: 5 feet 4 inches (162.5 cm) — no relaxation in this standard.
• Weight: as per Body Mass Index (BMI).
• 1.6 km run: to be completed in 8 minutes.
• Push-ups: 15 repetitions in 2 minutes.
• Sit-ups: 20 repetitions in 2 minutes.
• Pull-ups: 3 repetitions in 2 minutes.
• Ditch crossing: 7 feet 4 inches wide.
• Vision: distance vision 6/9 and 6/12 with glasses; near vision as per the published standard.

Salary and Benefits

A PMA Long Course cadet receives a monthly stipend during the two years of training at PMA Kakul, covering the period of military education before commissioning. After successful completion of training and commissioning as a Second Lieutenant, the officer is placed on the standard Pakistan Army pay scale with regular pay, allowances, and annual increments, plus:

• Free medical treatment for the officer and family at Combined Military Hospitals.
• Official accommodation or house-rent allowance.
• Generous leave, pension, and post-retirement benefits.
• Continuous professional development, staff courses, and opportunities for higher military education at home and abroad.

How to Apply

Registration for the 159 PMA Long Course is online only. Follow these steps carefully:

1. Visit the official portal: Open www.joinpakarmy.gov.pk — the Army’s official registration website. Do not use unofficial websites for registration.
2. Select the course: Choose “PMA Long Course 159” from the list of open registrations.
3. Fill the registration form: Enter your personal details, CNIC / Form-B number, education details, and domicile exactly as shown on your documents.
4. Note your roll number and test date: After successful submission, the system will generate your roll number slip with the date and venue of your initial test at the nearest AS&RC.
5. Report on test day: Appear at the designated Army Selection and Recruitment Centre (Rawalpindi, Lahore, Multan, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, and other centres nationwide) with all original documents.
6. Submit before the deadline: Complete your online registration no later than 23 October 2026. Late applications are not accepted.

Required Documents Checklist

Bring the following to the AS&RC on test day. All documents must be genuine and complete:

• Original certificates and detailed mark sheets of Matric, FA / FSc or equivalent (duly attested).
• CNIC for candidates over 18 years, or Computerized Form-B / parent’s CNIC for candidates under 18.
• Three passport-size photographs attested by a Grade 16 officer.
• Domicile certificate.
• Original ISSB “Not Recommended” letter (for repeater candidates only).
• Hope certificate from the head of institution (for FSc Part-II awaited candidates, where applicable).

Selection Procedure

Selection for the 159 PMA Long Course is a multi-stage elimination process. Roughly the sequence is:

1. Online registration at joinpakarmy.gov.pk (14 Sep – 23 Oct 2026).
2. Initial written / intelligence test at the AS&RC — academic MCQs and intelligence questions.
3. Physical test — run, push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, and ditch crossing as per the standards above.
4. Initial medical examination — height, chest, BMI, eyesight, and general fitness.
5. Preliminary interview — panel interview with written components.
6. ISSB (4 days) — candidates recommended at the AS&RC proceed to the Inter-Services Selection Board for psychological tests, group tasks, and final interviews.
7. Final medical examination — clearance by the GHQ medical board.
8. GHQ merit list — final selection on merit, followed by joining instructions for PMA Kakul.

Important Dates

Date	Details
13 September 2026	Advertisement published in Daily The News
14 September 2026	Online registration opens at joinpakarmy.gov.pk
23 October 2026	Last date / closing date for online registration
After registration	Initial tests at AS&RCs (dates on roll number slips)
To be announced	ISSB call-ups and final merit list at GHQ

Why Consider a Career as a Pakistan Army Officer

A commission through the PMA Long Course is unlike any civilian job. It offers a structured career with steady progression from Second Lieutenant to senior command, respected social standing, quality housing and healthcare, and the rare privilege of serving the nation directly. The leadership training at PMA Kakul develops discipline, decision-making, and character that employers and institutions value for life. For a young man with the drive to lead, few career paths in Pakistan offer this combination of honour, security, and personal growth.

FAQs

1. What is the last date to apply for the 159 PMA Long Course?
   Online registration closes on 23 October 2026. Registration opened on 14 September 2026 at joinpakarmy.gov.pk.
2. Can Intermediate (FA/FSc) students apply?
   Yes. Candidates with at least 60% marks in FA/FSc or equivalent (55% for specified areas) can apply, provided they meet the age and physical standards.
3. What is the age limit for PMA 159?
   Age is counted as on 1 May 2027: 17–22 years for Intermediate candidates, 17–23 for 2-year graduates, 17–24 for 4-year graduates, and 17–25 for serving Army soldiers.
4. Are female candidates eligible?
   No. The PMA Long Course is for male candidates only; women apply through the Lady Cadet Course.
5. Where do I register?
   Only at the official portal www.joinpakarmy.gov.pk. Avoid unofficial websites.
6. What happens after the initial test?
   Candidates who clear the written, physical, and medical stages at the AS&RC are called for the 4-day ISSB, then a final medical, before the GHQ merit list.
7. How long is the training?
   Two years at the Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul, Abbottabad, after which cadets are commissioned as Second Lieutenants.
8. Is there any application fee?
   Registration itself is free on the official portal; candidates only bear their own travel and documentation costs.

Contact Information

• Organization: Pakistan Army
• Official registration portal: www.joinpakarmy.gov.pk
• Helpline: Army Selection and Recruitment Centres nationwide (Rawalpindi, Lahore, Multan, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, and others) — contact details are listed on joinpakarmy.gov.pk.
• Training institution: Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul, Abbottabad

Final Word

The 159 PMA Long Course is a once-a-year style opportunity that closes fast — registration ends on 23 October 2026, so eligible candidates should complete their online registration at joinpakarmy.gov.pk well before the deadline and begin preparing for the physical tests immediately. If you meet the education, age, and fitness standards, this is your chance to join the Pakistan Army as a Commissioned Officer and begin a career of leadership and national service.

Disclaimer: This article is a summary of the official advertisement published in the Daily The News on 13 September 2026 and the information on joinpakarmy.gov.pk. Eligibility details, dates, and procedures should always be confirmed on the official Pakistan Army registration portal before applying. For any query regarding this post, contact us at contact@jobzrio.com.