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Air Chief Marshal
Zaheer Ahmad Babar
NI(M)  HI(M)  SI(M)  TI(M)
Zaheer Ahmad Babar
16th Chief of Air Staff
Incumbent
Assumed office
19 March 2021
President Arif Alvi
Prime Minister Imran Khan
Preceded by ACM Mujahid Anwar Khan
Personal details
Born 16 April 1965 (1965-04-16) (age 59)
Sidh, Gujrat, Pakistan
Alma mater
Signature [[File:size|128x80px|alt=Zaheer's Signature|Zaheer Ahmad Babar's signature]]
Military service
Allegiance Pakistan
Service/branch Pakistan Air Force
Years of service 1986 – present
Rank Air Chief Marshal
Commands

Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu NI(M)HI(M)SI(M)TI(M) (Urdu language: ظہیر احمد بابر سدھو‎ ) is a four-star air force general and the current 16th Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force. He belongs to Sidh, Gujrat. On 19 March 2021, Babar took over command of the Pakistan Air Force from his predecessor ACM Mujahid Anwar Khan.[1]

Personal life[]

Chauhdary Zaheer Babar Sidhu Born on 16 April 1965, into a Punjabi Muslim Jatt family from the Sidhu clan.[2]

Career[]

Air Chief Marshal Chauhdary Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu was commissioned in GD (P) Branch of Pakistan Air Force in April, 1986. During his illustrious career, he has commanded a Fighter Squadron, a Flying Wing, an Operational Air Base and Regional Air Command. In his staff appointments, he has served as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operational Requirement & Development), Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Training-Officers) and Additional Secretary at Ministry of Defence. He has also served as Director General Projects, Director General Air Force Strategic Command, Deputy Chief of Air Staff (Air Defence) and Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Administration) at Air Headquarters Islamabad.

He is a graduate of Combat Commanders' School (PAK), Command & Staff College (UK), National Defence University (PAK), and Royal College of Defence Studies (UK). He also holds a master's degree in Strategic Studies.[3] In recognition of his outstanding services, he has been awarded with Tamgha-i-lmtiaz (Military), Sitara-i-lmtiaz (Military), Hilal-i-lmtiaz (Military) and Nishan-i-lmtiaz (Military).[4]

Chief of Air Staff[]

On 17 March 2021, Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan appointed him as Chief of Air Staff and he assumed charge on 19 March 2021. He also met with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on assuming office.[5][6]

Awards and decorations[]

PAF GDP Blue
Nishan-e-Imtiaz Hilal-e-Imtiaz Sitara-e-Imtiaz Tamgha-e-Imtiaz
Tamgha-e-Baqa (1998) Tamgha-e-Istaqlal (2002) Tamgha-e-Azm 10 years Service Medal
20 years Service Medal 30 years Service Medal 35 years Service Medal Hijri Tamgha
Jamhuriat Tamgha 1988 Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha Pakistan Independence Day Golden Jubilee Medal, 2006 Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Merit
PAF GD(P) Badge BLUE (More than 2000 flying hours)
Nishan-e-Imtiaz

(Military)

(Order of Excellence)

Hilal-e-Imtiaz

(Military)

(Crescent of Excellence)

Sitara-e-Imtiaz

(Military)

(Star of Excellence)

Tamgha-e-Imtiaz

(Military)

(Medal of Excellence)

Tamgha-e-Baqa

(Nuclear Test Medal)

1998

Tamgha-e-Istaqlal Pakistan

(Escalation with India Medal)

2002

Tamgha-e-Azm

(Medal of Conviction)

(2018)

10 Years Service Medal
20 Years Service Medal 30 Years Service Medal 35 Years Service Medal Hijri Tamgha

(Hijri Medal)

1979

Jamhuriat Tamgha

(Democracy Medal)

1988

Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha

(Resolution Day

Golden Jubilee Medal)

1990

Tamgha-e-Salgirah Pakistan

(Independence Day

Golden Jubilee Medal)

1997

Turkish

Legion of Merit[7][8]

2021

Foreign Decorations[]

Foreign Award
Flag of Turkey Turkey Turkish Legion of Merit[7][8] Turkish Armed Forces Medal of Merit

Effective dates of promotion[]

Insignia Rank Date
ACM Pakistan Air Force US-O10 insignia Air Chief Marshal (CAS) March, 2021
AM Pakistan Air ForceUS-O9 insignia Air Marshal July, 2018
AVM Pakistan Air Force US-O8 insignia Air Vice Marshal July, 2015
Pak-air-force-OF-6US-O7 insignia Air Commodore Sept, 2012
Pak-air-force-OF-5 Group Captain March, 2007
Pak-air-force-OF-4 Wing Commander August, 2001
Pak-air-force-OF-3 Squadron Leader Sept, 1993
Pak-air-force-OF-2 Flight Lieutenant March, 1990
Pak-air-force-OF-1b Flying Officer April, 1988
Pak-air-force-OF-1a Pilot Officer April, 1986

References[]

  1. "Zaheer Ahmad Babar appointed new chief of Pakistan Air Force". 2021-03-17. https://www.24newshd.tv/17-Mar-2021/zaheer-ahmad-babar-appointed-new-chief-of-pakistan-air-force. 
  2. "Air Chief Zaheer Ahmad Babar pays respects at religious scholar Hakeem Ghulam Muhamamd's grave in Gujrat village". 12 June 2021. https://thenamal.com/misc/air-chief-zaheer-ahmad-babar-pays-respects-at-religious-scholar-hakeem-ghulam-muhamamds-grave-in-gujrat-village/. 
  3. "Two Air Officers & Six Air Commodore promoted to the next rank". Lahoreworld.com. https://lahoreworld.com/2015/07/06/two-air-officers-six-air-commodore-promoted-to-the-next-rank/. 
  4. "Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Chauhdary Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, NI(M)". Pakistan: ISPR. https://www.ispr.gov.pk/chief-of-air-staff.php. 
  5. "Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar appointed new Pakistan Air Force chief". En.dailypakistan.com.pk. https://www.en.dailypakistan.com.pk/17-Mar-2021/air-marshal-zaheer-ahmad-babar-appointed-new-pakistan-air-force-chief%3fversion=amp. 
  6. "Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar appointed as new air chief". https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/592951-Air-Marshal-Zaheer-Ahmed-Babar-appointed-as-new-air-chief. 
  7. 7.0 7.1 "AIR CHIEF AWARDED WITH TURKISH LEGION OF MERIT – Second To None Pakistan Air Force Magazine" (in en-US). https://secondtononepaf.com/2021/11/16/air-chief-awarded-with-turkish-legion-of-merit/. 
  8. 8.0 8.1 "PAF chief awarded Turkish Legion of Merit" (in en). 2021-06-29. https://www.24newshd.tv/29-Jun-2021/paf-chief-awarded-turkish-legion-of-merit. 


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