Outgoing COAS holds farewell meetings with PM, president.
COAS Qamar Bajwa set to retire on November 29 (tomorrow).
PM Shehbaz commends his services in strengthening country.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Monday praised outgoing Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa for efficiently dealing with the ‘crises’ in the country during his six-year-long tenure.
COAS Bajwa is set to retire on November 29 (tomorrow) and will hand over the “baton of command” to Gen Asim Munir, who was appointedto succeed him last week.
As he gets ready to bid farewell to arms after serving as COAS from 2016-2022, General Bajwa met PM Shehbaz and President Arif Alvi today.
During the meeting, PM Shehbaz lauded the outgoing chief’s services for the Pakistan Army, national defence, and national interests, a statement from the PM’s Office read.
“The army, under the leadership of Gen Bajwa, has rendered exemplary services during various crises — including the removal of Pakistan from the FATF’s (Financial Action Task Force) grey list, coronavirus pandemic, and floods,” the prime minister said.
The armed forces crushed the menace of terrorism with valour and bravery under Gen Bajwa’s leadership, the premier said as he noted that he took charge as the army chief during “one of history’s toughest moments”.
“Gen Bajwa also played a key role in making Pakistan’s defence impregnable. [His] leadership in a complex regional situation set the direction for dealing with security challenges.”
The prime minister also appreciated the army chief’s services in terms of geo-economics as he noted that all political forces would have to sign on a “charter of the economy” to ensure that Pakistan becomes a strong economic force.
“You got the honour of leading the world’s best army,” the prime minister told COAS Bajwa.
In response, the outgoing chief thanked the prime minister for his full cooperation in the execution of national affairs.
Before meeting the prime minister, the army chief paid a farewell call on President Dr Arif Alvi at the Aiwan-e-Sadar, a statement from the President’s Secretariat said.
President Arif Alvi (left) meets Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the Aiwan-e-Sadar in Islamabad on November 28, 2022. — President’s Secretariat
In the meeting, the president commended Gen Bajwa’s services in the field of defence and also appreciated his services to the country and the Pakistan Army.
The president expressed best wishes for Gen Bajwa in his future endeavours.
A new anthem, “Kashmir Banay Ga Pakistan,” was issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday (tomorrow) in honor of Kashmir Solidarity Day.
Every year on February 5, Kashmir Solidarity Day is commemorated to show solidarity with the people of Indian-Occupied Kashmir.
Renowned musician Ahmed Jahanzeb sings the song, which sends a powerful message of solidarity and dedication to the liberation fighters of Held Kashmir.
Imran Raza wrote the words, while Irfan Saleem and Kamran Khan composed the music.
The song was composed especially to commemorate the momentous day and to reaffirm support for the courageous and tenacious people of Kashmir, who are fighting for their right to self-determination, as guaranteed by the documents of united nations
“Improving economic indicators and growing confidence of international investors and financial institutions is a welcome sign,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif remarked. When the Prime Minister visited Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq’s home in Lahore, he stated that the provinces and the federation are working together for the public’s welfare. Shazia Marri, Syed Khurshid Shah, and Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, the deputy speaker of the National Assembly, were also present. The Deputy Speaker was also congratulated by the Prime Minister on the marriage of his son. Also discussed were opinions regarding the nation’s general political situation.