ISLAMABAD, Feb 3: The federal government has promoted Rear Admiral Saleem Khalid, Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military), to the rank of vice admiral. According to a notification issued by the defence ministry here on Friday, vice admiral Saleem Khalid was commissioned in Pakistan Navy on December 1, 1971, in the operations branch. Having seen action in 1971 war and after serving on various PN ships, he joined Naval Aviation in 1974.

He has commanded a number of units such as PN ships — Mujahid (Mine Sweeper) and Shamsher (Frigate) — and Atlantic Aircraft Maritime Squadron. He has also served as commander air and commander naval aviation.

His staff appointments include director naval training, director naval aviation at Naval headquarters, and chief staff officer to Commander Pakistan Fleet. He was naval attache at Beijing from 1988-1991.

He is a graduate of Royal Naval College Greenwich UK (1982- 1983) and Naval Defence College from where he qualified Armed Forces War Course (1995-96). He served as flag officer sea training at Karachi before taking over the present assignment of Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Training and Personnel) at Islamabad.