Farooq Umar
Air Vice Marshal Farooq Umar, born Faisalabad, 1941,[1] (the son of Mian Muhammad Nurullah (the first Finance Minister of Punjab in the 1947/48 Mamdot cabinet) joined Pakistan Air force in 1958 and graduated as a fighter/Combat pilot from the air force Academy at Risalpur in 1960 with distinction after winning Triple honours i.e. Sword of Honour, Best Pilot’s Trophy and the Academics Trophy. He subsequently won the Jet Conversion Trophy in 1961 and the “Top Gun” award as well as the Roll of Honour from the Fighter leader School in 1971.
Personal Life:
Avm Farooq Umar was married to Late Seemeen Farooq from Quetta.
They have four children: Syma Farooq, Shehma Farooq, Salaar Farooq and Sonia Farooq.
Grand Children: Anya Ali and Alize Ali
Education
He received his initial schooling at Burn hall Abbottabad, Central Model School and Government College Lahore, followed by his B.Sc in 1976 from Karachi University, and M.Sc in War Studies from Quaid-e-Azam University in 1978, and a Phd) in International Relations from the Royal College of Defence Studies London 1983.
He was the only Asian student to give a presentation to the Queen Elizabeth II and the UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher regarding “Pakistan’s Importance for NATO” and the need for Pakistan to rejoin the British Common Wealth". (While in RCDS London 1982).
Service record
He joined a PAF F-104 squadron in 1962.[2] He has fought many major and minor battles as a combat pilot. He defended Pakistan against India in the battle of “Biar Bet” in the “Runn of KUTCH”. After that in Kashmir Operations and the Battle of Akhnur near Jammu, followed by participation in the Indo_Pak war 1965, and Indo-Pak war 1971, as well as the Arab-Israel war 1973. (Air Defence Operations only)
He has taught in the National Defence College War Wing( now NDU) and was Air defence Sector Commander for Sindh and Baluchistan, Base Commander Lahore, Commandant PAF Staff College Faisal Karachi, Base commander Faisal Air Base Karachi, and Director General Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra. He has been decorated 12 times by the Government of Pakistan, out of which three times he has been Decorated for Courage and Bravery in Combat (Gallantry Award of Sitara-e-Jurrat, Sitara-e-Basalat and Tamgaha-e-Basalat)
Ministry of Defence
After his 35 years in uniform, he was Seconded to the Federal Government and was asked to Setup “Shaheen Air Lines” and then was made CEO and Managing Director PIAC and given Grade-M1 (Which is equal to three Stars).
Other activities
He was elected “President Pakistan Hockey Federation” (PHF) serving 1993-96.[3] It was during his tenure that he Pakistan Hockey won a “World Champions Trophy” and the “World Cup Sydney 94” after a long lapse of 14 years . Until quite recently he was the elected President of Majlis-e-Quaid-e-Azam, President AFOS (Falcon Enclave), Vice President PAFROA Punjab and Patron in Chief Al-Shaoor Welfare Association (All Honorary)
Literary Services
For the guidance of general public and youth he wrote a book " Learn The Secrets of Success" containing the rules of self-motivation and determination to achieve their goals. The first edition of the book was published in September,2013 followed by the second edition in November, 2013 due to quick and warm response of public. The preface of the book is written by Muhammad Mahmood Alam, a well known hero of Pak India war 1965. He is also The Chairman of AVM Farooq Foundation, which is a great source of inspiration to the youth and general public.
References
- "Who's Who in Top 100 Companies". Economic Review. December 1, 1993.
- Bell, T (2014). F-104 Starfighter Units in Combat. Osprey. p. 82.
- Friskin, Sydney (1997). Going for Gold: Pakistan at Hockey. Oxford UP. p. 108.