ISLAMABAD: Lt. Gen. (retired) Nigar Johar Khan, the first woman lieutenant general of the Pakistan Army, has been appointed as a brand ambassador for women’s empowerment by the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), state media reported on Tuesday.
Johar, also a former colonel commandant of the Army Medical Corps, was the first-ever three-star woman general in the Pakistan Army to lead a corps. Originally from Swabi, a conservative region in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, she joined the Army Medical College in 1981 and graduated in 1985.
“In a historic move for gender equality and women’s leadership, the RCCI has appointed Lt Gen (retd) Nigar Johar Khan as its official brand ambassador for women empowerment and women initiatives,” the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported following an event titled “SHE Leads — A Tribute to Women.”
RCCI President Usman Shaukat praised Johar’s “courage and dedication in breaking barriers.”
“She has redefined what is possible for women in Pakistan and stands as a beacon of hope and aspiration,” APP quoted him as saying.
On the occasion, Johar commended RCCI’s “proactive stance” on gender equality and emphasized the importance of unity and solidarity.
“Creating spaces for women to lead, grow, and shape the future is essential,” state media quoted the retired general as saying.