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ISLAMABAD: The government on Wednesday appointed Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu as the new chief of Pakistan Air Force (PAF).
PAF’s media directorate, while announcing the appointment, said: “Government of Pakistan has appointed Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu as new Chief of the Air Staff wef 19 March, 2021.”
Zaheer Babar Sidhu has been elevated to the rank of air chief marshal (ACM). He would succeed ACM Mujahid Anwar Khan, who is retiring on Thursday.
ACM Sidhu is currently serving at the Air Headquarters as Deputy Chief of Air Staff (Administration).
He will assume the command of the air force at the change of command ceremony at the Air Headquarters on Friday (tomorrow).
ACM Sidhu was commissioned in PAF’s GD (P) branch in April 1986. He has commanded a fighter squadron, an operational air base and regional air command. Some of his other earlier staff appointments were Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operation Research and Development), Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Training Officers) and Director General of Projects at Air Headquarters.
He was promoted as an air marshal in July 2018.
Farewell meeting
ACM Mujahid Anwar Khan, meanwhile, paid a farewell call on Prime Minister Imran Khan.
“The prime minister appreciated meritorious services of the outgoing air chief rendered in the service of the nation and wished him well,” a statement issued by the Prime Minister Office said.
ACM Khan had an eventful tenure as the air chief. It was under his command that PAF jets shot down two intruding Indian Air Force fighters during aerial skirmishes in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack.
ACM Khan, an official statement said, “played a visionary role in planning and execution of the Operation Swift Retort”. The successful response of PAF, it said, established the credibility of Pakistan’s conventional deterrence in maintaining strategic edge in the region.
President Arif Alvi, meanwhile, on Wednesday conferred Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Civil) on the retiring air chief in recognition of his services for the country and raising the morale of the people of Pakistan in the Operation Swift Retort.
The investiture ceremony was held at the President House, which was attended by Defence Minister Pervez Khattak and senior civil and military officers.
Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2021
