With a seven years tenure Air Chief Marshal Anwar Shamim had been second longest tour of command of the PAF. He took over at a time when the PAF’s basic structure with regard to men, equipment and morale had just been refurbished by his predecessor, and the new CAS was in the happy position of being able to select the course he should now adopt to take the air force to ever greater heights. He chose two admirable themes: operational excellence and personnel welfare, and pursued both with commendable zeal.

Air Marshal Shamim was commissioned in the RPAF in March 1952 after completing his pilot training at the Royal Australian Air Force College at Point Cook. During his career he had held command of a fighter squadron followed by that of a fighter wing – the latter during the 65 war in which he earned a Sitata-i-Jurat He also served as base commander at Masroor, Korangi Creek and Sakesar.

His last staff appointment was as chief of operations at Air Headquarters just prior to assumption of charge as CAS at the age of 47. In between, Shamim had qualified, among other courses, the Fighter Leaders Course and the National Defence College course.

Air Chief Marshal Shamim’s notable contribution during his long tenure included the induction of the super-sophisticated F-16s, the acquisition of A-5s, and the creation of three regional air commands for more efficient conduct of air operations generally and of land-air and naval-air operations specially. He also instituted a system of annual operational exercises to continually improve the PAF’s combat posture.

In the field of welfare, he expanded considerably upon the activities of PAFWA, adding two Mujahida academies aimed at improving the quality of life PAF personnel and their families.