ISLAMABAD: Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan took over the command of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) as the 22nd chief of the air staff in a graceful change of command ceremony held at Air Headquarters on Monday. During the ceremony, a smartly turned out contingent of the PAF presented the guard of honour to the outgoing chief of the air staff, Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman. Later, he pinned the new ranks on Air Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, the new air chief, and handed him over the “command sword”. To bid farewell to the outgoing air chief a four-ship formation of JF-17 Thunder aircraft presented a farewell fly past over the venue. Speaking on the occasion, outgoing Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman said, “I am glad to leave behind a well-developed mature organisation, equipped with sophisticated hardware in the hands of most competent and highly skilled professionals, ever ready to defend the aerial frontiers of Pakistan as per the aspirations of the nation. As I reflect upon my times, both pleasant and testing in Pakistan Air Force, vivid among these are the events of the last three years in which PAF faced unprecedented challenges and brought peace to the country after milestone achievements in war against violent non-state actors and extremists. Establishment of PAF’s Airpower Centre of Excellence was another major step forward in augmenting PAF’s operational preparedness and promoting cordial relations with friendly countries. PAF has also embarked upon a toilsome but rewarding effort in shape of Aviation City and a well-crafted Aerospace and Aviation Campus of Air University to prove the much needed Industry-Academia linkage for economic prosperity of the country through indigenization and self-reliance.” The prime minister had approved the appointment of Air Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan as new chief of air staff on Friday. He has superseded Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Farooq Habib, who was senior to him. Published in Daily Times, March 20th 2018.