Karachi: As many as 94 naval cadets, including seven women, were commissioned to join the Pakistan Navy (PN) as officers at the passing-out parade held at the Pakistan Naval Academy here on Monday.
With these seven women, the number of female officers graduating from Pakistan Naval Academy stands at 64. However, the total number of female officers serving in the Pakistan Navy is much higher.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Noman Bashir was chief guest on the occasion.
Addressing the parade, the naval chief lauded the participation of women in the armed forces and said that the fourth batch of female naval officers as part of passing-out parade not only signified the self-assurance of Pakistani women in their abilities but also their will to step into the seafaring profession which was an exclusively male preserve in the past.
The chief of naval staff said that Pakistan at present was beset with numerous challenges.
He said, “The scourge of terrorism continues to plague our national efforts towards a progressive and prosperous nation”.
Admiral Bashir, however, said that he had full conviction that collectively and with dedicated efforts, the nation would surmount the challenge and Pakistan would find its rightful place in the comity of nations.
Addressing the graduating officers, the Naval Chief said that the Naval Warfare had become an exceedingly vast and complex domain which demanded thorough knowledge and ingenuity.
Remaining abreast with the developments, both in weaponry and doctrinal concepts is the need of time but modern weaponry alone does not guarantee success. It requires high professional skills and undeterred will to accomplish assigned tasks against all odds, he said.
Earlier in his welcome speech, Commandant Pakistan Naval Academy Commodore Ayaz Ahmed Nasir highlighted the salient features of training at the Pakistan Naval Academy.
He apprised the audience that the commissioning term includes six officers from Palestine and eight from Saudi Arabia along with 32 Short Service Commissioned officers including seven females.
Later, the chief guest awarded prizes to the winners. Midshipman Zeeshan Javed was awarded Sword of Honour for best performance. Academy’s Dirk was grabbed by Midshipman Saad Sohail Malik.
For best all-round performance, Quaid-e-Azam Gold Medal was awarded to Lt. M Wahab Usama and the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gold Medal went to Cadet Mohsin Saeed. Commandant Gold Medal was given to Cadet Beenish Zaidi. Cadet Tharawat JH Jamalan from Palestine Navy received the CNS Gold Medal and was declared the best all round allied cadet.
Source: The News
Date:7/5/2011
