He also held the positions of chairman at Pakistan International Airlines, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Fauji Foundation.

Nawaz Khan was a commerce graduate with honours from Punjab University and a M.Sc.

He was commissioned in the Army Artillery Corps in 1966 as a Butt Shikan, in the 28th medium ARTY Punjab Regiment in which he served for 34 years.

He commanded the 33rd Infantry Division in Quetta for three years (1995–1998), served as Chief Instructor of Armed Forces War College at the then National Defense College (1998–2000).

Hamid led the army college at Abbottabad until 2004, when he was promoted to Quetta corps commander.