Saleem Jhagra joined the Civil Services of Pakistan in the Office Management Group in 1973-74 and moved on to the Secretariat Group. In his around 38 years of service, he served on various important posts including Federal Secretary Postal Services Division, Investment Division / Board of Investment and Local Government & Rural Development Division and Additional Secretary Ministry of Food, Agriculture & Live Stocks Division, Provincial Secretary Health / P&D, Environment, Women Development & Regional Development, Additional Secretary Finance, Chief Development for Agriculture and FATA in the then NWFP Province. Saleem Khan Jhagra also remained as Pakistans Alternate Permanent Representative to the Rome based, food and agriculture related United Nations Agencies between 1982-1992. In his capacity as Chairman of the Group of 77 he lead the group negotiations on restructuring of FAO and WFP as well as the 3rd Replenishment of the Core Fund of IFAD. Subsequently he was elected as member and chairman of the FAO / WFP Joint Finance Committee from 1994-1997 and again as member from 2004-2005. His most significant contribution was during his tenure as Provincial Secretary Health in the then NWFP where during a relatively brief tenure fraught with strong opposition from the medical community he was able to bring about major institutional and administrative reforms within the Sector establishing new career structures for public health managers, nurses, paramedics and pharmacists. He commissioned the Ayub Medical College Teaching Hospital, Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar, Gynae & Obstetrics Ward at Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar and hospitals at Wana South Waziristan, Mardan and Kohat Road Peshawar.

Mr. Saleem Khan Jhagra is son of famous politician Mr. Ibrahim Khan Jhagra who joined Mr. Muhammad Ali Jinnah in making of Pakistan and known as the "King maker of Frontier" and also served as acting Governor of NWFP. Mr. Saleem is son in Law of Late President Ghulam Ishaq Khan, Brother of former Provincial Minister for Education, Health and Agriculture KPK Mr. Iftikhar Khan Jhagra, Cousin of Mr. Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Central Secretary General PML (N) and a close relative of Saif Ullah family( Famous political family of KPK).