| Unit Name: | Central Air Command |
| Dates: | July 1982 – present |
| Country: |  Pakistan |
| Allegiance: | Pakistan Armed Forces |
| Type: | Regional Command |
| Role: | Air Defence, OCA, Offensive Ground Support, Airlift. |
| Garrison: | PAF Base Mushaf, Sargodha District (1982–2007) PAF Base Lahore, Lahore District (2007–Present) |
| Garrison Label: | Headquarters |
| Nickname: | CAC |
| Motto: | ضرب کاری |
| Battles: | War On Terror Operation Sentinel Operation Swift Retort |
| Commander1 Label: | AOC |
The Central Air Command (CAC) is one of six Major Commands in the Pakistan Air Force, reporting to the Air Headquarters at Islamabad. It is the forefront command of the PAF which handles operational activities near the Indian borders in Pakistan's Punjab province. Central Air Command is headquartered at PAF Base Lahore in the provincial capital of Lahore.[1] [2] [3] [4]
CAC is commanded by a senior PAF officer known as the "Air Officer Commanding" or "AOC", who is of Air Vice Marshal rank.[5] [6]
During the Indo-Pakistani wars like the 1965 War and the 1971 War, Indian attacks and invasions were focused towards the central parts of Pakistan. Hence to centralize operations in the theatre, Central Air Command (CAC) was established by the PAF in July 1982. While initially headquartered in the building of Combat Commander's School at PAF Base Sargodha, it was shifted to a new location at the base of the Kirana Hills Site where it stayed for 20 years. In 2007, the command was transferred to its current location at PAF Base Lahore where it received a new office at the old terminal of the Lahore Airport by November 2018.[1]
The command controls various PAF bases which have squadrons equipped with F-16s, JF-17s, Mirage IIIs, Mirage Vs and Dassault Falcon 20s. It also commands the largest Dassault Mirage fleet in the world.[1] [7] [3]