ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday advised the president to appoint Air Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt as the new Chief of Air Staff of Pakistan Air Force.

Current Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman is retiring from the post on March 18.

The prime minister has moved the summary for appointing the new air chief to President Asif Ali Zardari who will take the ultimate decision on the matter.

Air Marshal Butt is currently the senior most officer of PAF. He joined the force on March 6 1977 as a GD pilot.

Butt assumed the office of Vice Chief of the Air Staff on October 5, 2010. In recognition of his meritorious and exceptionally dedicated services, he has been decorated with the awards of Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military), Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military) and Tamgha-i-Basalat.