The Vice chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS) is the post that is principal deputy and second-in-command (S-in-C) of the Pakistan Army, reporting under the Chief of the Army Staff. The position was created in the existence of army chief is simultaneously the President of Pakistan, having taking over by imposing the martial law against the elected civilian government. The post is now obsolete and no longer in existence with the army – the Chief of the General Staff now serves as the second-in-command in the army leadership.

Chief of the General Staff is the most coveted position within the Pakistan Army after that of the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS). Although four-star Chief of the Army Staff is the head of the land forces, CGS is "the organisational lead on both intelligence and operations" hence being in charge of the Military Intelligence (MI) and Military Operations (MO) Directorates. Since 1985 a three-star lieutenant general is appointed to the post of CGS.