Anwar Shamim
Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Mohammad Anwar Shamim NI(M) HI(M) SJ SI(M) OI LoM (Urdu: محمد انور شمیم); (1 October 1931 – 4 January 2013) was a senior air officer of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and was the Chief of Air Staff, appointed to the post in 1978 until retiring in 1985.
Anwar Shamim | |
|---|---|
ACM Anwar Shamim (1931–2013) | |
| Chief of Air Staff | |
| In office 23 July 1978 – 5 March 1985 | |
| Preceded by | ACM Zulfiqar Ali Khan |
| Succeeded by | ACM Jamal Khan |
| Chairman of Shaheen Foundation | |
| In office 1982–1988 | |
| President of Pakistan Squash Federation | |
| In office 1985–1988 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mohammad Anwar Shamim 1 October 1931 Haripur, North-West Frontier Province, British India (Present-day, Haripur in Hazara District, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan) |
| Died | 5 January 2013 (aged 81) CMH Rawalpindi in Punjab, Pakistan |
| Cause of death | Catastrophic illness |
| Resting place | H-11 Graveyard, Islamabad |
| Citizenship | Pakistan |
| Nickname(s) | Shamim Fire Fighter M. Anwar Shamim |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Pakistan |
| Branch/service | Pakistan Air Force |
| Years of service | 1954–1985 |
| Rank | Air Chief Marshal |
| Unit | No. 12 Squadron Globe Trotters (S/No. PAK/ 3657): 231 |
| Commands | Missile Guidance Program Air Force Strategic Command Southern Air Command Masroor Air Force Base ACAS (Air Operations) at Air AHQ |
| Battles/wars | Indo-Pakistani war of 1965
Arab–Israeli war of 1967 Jordan–Palestine conflict in 1970 Indo-Pakistani war of 1971 Soviet–Afghan War |
| Awards | Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) Sitara-e-Jurat Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military) Order of Independence Order of King Abdulaziz Legion of Merit |
Born in Haripur, British India, he was a career fighter pilot who participated in conflict with India in the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965 and also in 1971, before playing a crucial role as a military adviser to Jordan against Palestinian insurgent groups in 1970.
As an Chief of the Air Staff, Shamim is notable for taking initiatives to modernize the PAF by successfully acquiring the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon from the United States under Project Falcon in 1983, and acquiring radar technology from the US to strengthen his country's aerial defense. During his tenureship, he played an influential role in the Zia administration, advising President Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq on policy matters involving the national security of Pakistan.
In addition, Shamim also holds the distinction of being the second longest serving Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force. He died in January 2013 and was buried with full state honours.