About Us
History
PAF College Sargodha is a residential institution which after the approval from the first Prime Minister of Pakistan Liaquat Ali Khan was founded in 1953. It runs on lines of the English Public School System to educate and groom students as future officers of Pakistan Air Force. Initially as Public School it provided education up to Senior Cambridge level, however, in 1967 with the introduction of the matriculation and F Sc System, it was upgraded to the status of College. In 1973 it was made part of PAF Academy Ashghar Khan, Risalpur and boys were inducted as Flight Cadets. In 1990 its role was again reverted back to Public School System with education from 8th class to F Sc In 2002, while maintaining the status of college, its name was changed to PAF Public School Sargodha, however, from 28th March, 2015 the title of PAF College Sargodha has been restored.
Approval of Defence Committee
PAF College Sargodha was established in December 1952 by AST (Air Service Training Limited) South Hampton, United Kingdom and started functioning from February 1953. The story of PAF College began in 1950 when AVM Atecherly (1949-1951), in his first ever meeting with Air Cdre Janjua, Officer Incharge of RPAF, discussed his concern about the training aspect of the new developing Air Force in Pakistan. The Defence committee gave their approval for the establishment of two “Feeder Schools”. As a part of this initiative, Mr. Eric Sprawson was appointed as Principal of Royal PAF Public School Sargodha. The school inducted first batch of 100 boys, marking the beginning of an exciting and transformative educational journey.
Establishment of College
The foundation stone of the Royal Pakistan Air Force Public School, Sargodha was laid by Governor Punjab Mian Amin ud Din, Moreover, two boarding Houses, Tempest & fury were established in the Odean Block. Mr. G Stott & Mr. G. D.Hamilton were first Housemasters of Tempest and Fury respectively. After becoming Deputy Head Master, Mr. G. Scott handed over Tempest House to Mr.J. Buckman.In the same year, a challenge shield was presented to Mr. G Stott by Chigwell school
The Formation of Boarding House
1954 : The two boarding houses Tempest and Fury together won the Chigwell Shield. On 30th December Mr. G.D Hemilton leaves the school, handing over Fury House to Mr. Noel John Cathern. 1955 : Two more houses Attacker and Saber were added to the system. These houses were shifted to the new buildings and Mr. IWG Cameron and Mr. AW Lawrence became the house masters of Saber and Attacker houses respectively.
Rename as PAF Public School Sargodha
The College was renamed as Pakistan Air Force Public School Sargodha with no change in its role and task.
Mr. Hugh Catchpole (Second Principal)
The College envisaged change in its role. It was decided by the Board of Governors that from then onwards the College would run as a Cadet College and Pre-Cadets would be bound to get commission in PAF. They were eligible for a commission in GD (P) after passing the Matric examination and for the technical commission after passing Intermediate (FSc) examination. Mr. Hugh Catchpole Joined the College as Second Principal of the School in 1958.
First Founders' Day
1965: Indo Pak War started and the School closes. The Boys of East Pakistan and remote areas of West Pakistan shifted to Lower Topa. Afterwards, in 1965 20th October, the School re-opens. 1966: On 26Th February, the first Founders' Day was celebrated and Air Marshal Noor Khan graced the occasion as the guest of honour.
Mr Rehman Qureshi (First Pakistani Principal))
1967 was an interesting year as the post of principal was taken by a Pakistani named Mr. Rehman Qureshi. The name of the school changed to PAF College School Sargodha. The houses were named after war heroes. The name of the School magazine changed from Sargodhians to Shahbaz. On 1st September 1968 Lower Topa School amalgamated with Sargodha. Alam and Allauddin Houses were formed for the Topians.
PAF College as Part of PAF Academy Risalpur
In 1973 the college started functioning as a Degree College. In 1973 The College was made part of PAF Academy Risalpur, and BSc classes were introduced. Matric passed students after qualifying ISSB were inducted as uniformed Cadets and were authorized PAF Khaki Uniform. However, the name of the college remained unchanged i.e. ‘Pakistan Air Force College Sargodha.
PCS restricted to conduct FSc Classes Only.
1984: BSc Classes were shifted to PAF Academy, Risalpur. Thereon, the College was restricted to conduct FSc Classes only.
Transition College to Public School
In 1985, BS.c classes shifted to Risalpur from PAF College Sargodha. Once again FS.c classes resumed at the College. Air Cdre Fareed Ali Shah (442-T), a former Sargodhian, was appointed as Commandant to supervise the transition of PAF College Sargodha from a Degree Science College to a typical public school from December 1987 to April 1991.
First Sargodhian Air Chief
In 1990, 94th GD (P), 39th (CAE) became last entries to pass through PAF College Sargodha. The College reopened on Public School Lines. The houses shifted back to their original names. The 23rd and 24th entries joined as 8th and 9th classes respectively. Air Chief Marshal Farooq Feroze Khan, NI (M), SBt enjoys the unique honour of being the first Sargodhian to become a four star General during his career in the PAF. Besides being the Chief of the Air Staff from 1991 to 1994, he also rose to the position of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC). In this capacity, he served from 1994 to 1997. Other prominent Sargodhians include Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat (697-F) who became chief of air staff, Pakistan Air Force. To achieve the objective of running PAF College Sargodha on the lines of a Public School system meeting the requirements of the military training doctrine, the Air Headquarters decided to appoint a very senior Sargodhian AVM (Retd) Raja Aftab Iqbal (119-F) as Commandant of PAF College Sargodha.
Rename to PAF Public School Sargodha
In February 2001, the college was re-named as Pakistan Air Force Public School Sargodha. The designation of Head of the Institution was renamed as the Principal. In 2003 the college celebrate its Golden Jubilee. On 19 March, 2003, another Sargodhian, Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat (697-F), joined the galaxy of four-stars and became Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force. In October 2004, General Ehsan ul Haq (589-F) became chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. On 20 March, 2006, Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed (767-F) became the third Furian to have reached the status of Chief of the Air Staff. Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman (851-S) became Chief of Air Staff on 18 March 2009.
PAF Public School to PAF College Sargodha
Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt (895-S) became the Chief of Air staff on 19 March 2012. Air Marshals Masood Hatif, Shafique Haider, Aliuddin, Shahid Zulfiqar, Saeed Anwar, Pervez Akhtar Nawaz, Sarfaraz Arshad Toor, Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed, Arif Pervaiz, Masood Akhtar, Raashid Kaleem, Hifazat Ullah Khan and Tahir Rafique Butt are a few of the old boys who attained the three star status and formed a luminous chapter in the history of PAF Public School Sargodha. Amongst them Air Marshals Masood Hatif, Shafique Haider, Aliuddin, Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed, Raashid Kaleem, Hifazat Ullah Khan and Tahir Rafique Butt have the distinction of becoming Vice Chiefs of Air Staff. In 2013, Hashim siddique (1087-Y) rose to the rank of Rear Admiral while Mr Aizaz Chauhdry (1101-SF) elevated to grade 22 and appointed as Foreign Secretary Government of Pakistan in December 2013. In March 2015, Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman NI (M) Chief of the Air Staff addressed the Sargodhians. In the same year, the status of institution was changed back from PAF Public School to PAF College Sargodha.
