Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu has been granted a one-year extension to his service by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Shehbaz Sharif had sent the summary of his extension to President Asif Ali Zardari which he signed and returned in the evening.
He took over the PAF from his predecessor Mujahid Anwar Khan on March 19th, 2021. After serving for three years, he was set to retire from the post. However, he has been granted a one-year extension.
He was earlier posted as the Chief of Administrative Affairs. He will be leading the flying past parade on March 23rd, 2024.
Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Zaheer Babar, who assumed command of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on March 19, 2021, is the 16th chief and was set to retire on March 18, which is today.
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Born on April 16, 1965, Air Marshal Sidhu joined the GD(P) Branch of the PAF in April 1986. Throughout his career, he has held various significant positions, including commanding a Fighter Squadron, a Flying Wing, an Operational Air Base, and a Regional Air Command.
In terms of staff roles, he has served as the assistant chief of the air staff (OR&D), assistant chief of the air staff (training officers), and additional secretary at the Ministry of Defence.
For his exceptional contributions and dedicated service, Air Marshal Sidhu has received the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Military), Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military), and Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military) awards as a token of recognition.
Meanwhile, PAF continues to play a significant role in defending the territorial sovereignty of Pakistan. Pakistan recently conducted airstrikes in Afghanistan on alleged TTP hideouts. The airstrikes were carried out following attack on Pakistani soldiers in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan.
Earlier this year in January, Pakistan conducted retaliatory airstrikes in Iran on the separatist militant hideouts. The attacks were carried out two days after Tehran said it struck the terrorist bases in Pakistan.