Saleem Akhtar Mathew

Commander ® Saleem Akhtar Mathew (Pak Navy)

DEPUTY SECRETARY

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

Hailing from a small village in District Khanewal, Cdr ® Mathew was born on 29 January 1953. Having acquired all his education securing top positions all along from Cantt Board Public High School and Government Degree College Attock, he went on to join Pakistan Navy in 1973.

During his service he was assigned different responsibilities on land as well as at sea, which included Command of ships and Staff appointments at Naval HQs, Joint Staff HQs Chaklala, Rawalpindi. On account of his exceptional sense of duty, professional approach and reliability, in 1989, he was deputed to the Royal Navy of Oman as Senior Pakistan Armed Forced Officer to lead a Pakistani Contingent and was also assigned the duties of Defence Attache’ at Embassy of Pakistan in Oman. On recognition of his services in Oman, at the Omani Government honored him with a medal on its 18^th National Day. On his return from Oman did his graduation in War Studies at Pakistan Navy Staff College and subsequently, was given a Staff appointment as Deputy Director Naval Training. Cdr Mathew took a pre-mature retirement in 2001 as a result of a critical road accident, which ruled out all future prospects of further promotion. Soon after retirement, Government again acquired his services and appointed him as Federal Deputy Secretary (Grade 19) at Ministry of Defence in Aviation Wing. A very different yet challenging assignment especially after 9/11 Mathew was assigned the most demanding and sensitive responsibility of supervising the Civil Aviation Authority and Airports Security throughout the country.

The tragic Earthquake of 8^th Oct 2005 brought new challenges as the world’s largest relief operations by air was conducted at Chaklala Air Base, Rawalpindi. As an aviation expert and officer in charge of Crisis Management Cell at Ministry of Defense, for this relief operations, worked tirelessly day and night coordinating and liaising with different agencies for the smooth conduct of the relief operations.

From his very childhood, he has been honest, morally upright, trustworthy and God-fearing practicing religious obligations. In his teen age he was appointed treasurer of the church in Attock. In 1969, at the age of 16, decided to follow Jesus and publically declared his decision by being baptized the same month. Being of member of Southern Baptist Church, he actively & willingly served & looked after church affairs. He remained a member of Parish Council at the Protestant International Church Islamabad that experienced grenade attack by terrorists in 2001… the very first church in Pakistan that was attacked by the terrorists.

 

Very much blessed by the book Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, he feels that the young generation of the community does not have any platform for direction and guidance and has a vision to motivate, encourage and assist them for a Purpose- Driven Christian life. He chairs a nonprofit organization patronizing/ encouraging/ mentoring youth of the Christian community especially in the field of Education and Sports.

References

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