ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday congratulated Brig. Helen Mary Roberts after she became the first Christian female officer to achieve the senior army rank in the 76-year history of Pakistan.
The military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), confirmed that Brig. Roberts of the Army Medical Corps had been promoted to her new position in response to an Arab News query.
Women have been integral to the medical corps for decades and have more recently begun to join combat divisions as soldiers. Several other members of minority religious communities are also affiliated with the Pakistan military on different ranks.
“Brig. Helen Mary Roberts has proven through her hard work that Pakistani women are no less than men in any field,” the prime minister said in a statement released by his office.
“The entire nation, including the Pakistani Christian community, is proud of Brig. Helen Mary Roberts and thousands of other hardworking women from the minority community,” he added.
Sharif said Brig. Roberts would be an inspiration for the new generation of women through her dedication, commitment and passion for humanity.
Muslim-majority Pakistan has strived for religious inclusivity in recent years amid continuing social challenges for minority communities.
Last year, Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir commended the role played by the country’s Christian community in its development during a Christmas celebration at Christ Church in Rawalpindi.
He praised their contributions to promoting quality education, health care and philanthropy, as well as their notable contributions to national defense.
Pakistan PM congratulates nation’s first Christian female brigadier, calls her inspiration for women
https://arab.news/92hav
Pakistan PM congratulates nation’s first Christian female brigadier, calls her inspiration for women
- Helen Mary Roberts of Army Medical Corps is the first Christian female officer to have reached the rank in 76 years
- Last year, the army chief commended the role played by the Christian community in Pakistan’s development
Pakistan stock market sees 41% rise in investors in 18 months
- Pakistan’s stock market has gained momentum at start of year on broad-based institutional buying
- The rise in the stock market reflects global investors’ confidence in the country, state media says
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Stock Exchange has witnessed a 41% increase in the number of investors over the past 18 months, Pakistani state broadcaster reported on Friday.
Pakistani stock market has gained momentum in recent months as broad-based institutional buying across key sectors has reinforced investor confidence even as the country continues to navigate economic reforms under international lending programs.
Around 135,000 new investors have joined the PSX over the last 18 months, the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“Pakistan’s stock market has emerged as the second-best performing market globally,” the report said. “The rise in the stock market reflects global investors’ confidence in Pakistan’s improved investment environment.”
The development came as the PSX shed a little more than 1,000 points as it closed the weekend session at 184,519 points.
The report said coordinated efforts by Pakistan’s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) have helped stabilize the country’s economy and investment market, elevating it to prominence at the global level.
“Pakistan’s macroeconomic environment has become an attractive and reliable destination for investment,” it quoted Finance Adviser Khurram Schehzad as saying.
On Wednesday, Pakistani stocks climbed to a fresh all-time high with the benchmark KSE-100 Index crossing the 186,000-point mark for the first time as potential foreign inflows upheld the positive sentiment.
