In yet another milestone in her career, Major General Nigar Johar has become Pakistan's first female officer to be promoted to the rank of lieutenant general, the military's media wing said on Tuesday.
In a tweet, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar, said that the officer has also been appointed as the first female surgeon general of the Pakistan Army.
She hails from Panjpeer village, in Swabi district, the statement added.
Major General Nigar Johar, HI (M) promoted as Lieutenant General.
She is the 1st female officer to be promoted as Lieutenant General. The officer has been appointed as 1st female Surgeon General of Pak Army. Lieutenant General Nigar Johar hails from Panjpeer, District Swabi KPK.
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In 2017, the newly promoted lieutenant general became the third woman officer in the history of the Pakistan Army to reach the rank of major general.
She is the daughter of Col Qadir, who served in the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and is the niece of retired Maj Mohammad Aamir, a former Pakistan Army officer who served in the ISI as well.
Both her parents died in a car accident 30 years ago.
According to PID, not only is the newly promoted lieutenant general a doctor, but also a sharp shooter.
She completed her schooling from Presentation Convent Girls High School, Rawalpindi and graduated from Army Medical College in 1985.
In 2015, she received a Masters degree in public health from the University of Health Sciences, Lahore. She also has the honour of being the first woman officer to be given command of a unit/hospital of the armed forces.
'Powerful message for our girls'
Congratulating the officer on her promotion, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif said that this sent a powerful message to girls and young women, "to aspire for the impossible in life".
Promotion of Major General Nigar Johar to the rank of Lt. General, the first lady officer to reach this position in the history of Pakistan, is a powerful message to our girls & women to aspire for the impossible in life. Congratulations to the newly appointed officer!
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PML-N's Ahsan Iqbal called the achievement a "leapfrog for Pakistani women, who are contributing in all areas of national development and security".
Congratulations to first female three star (Lt Gen) in Pakistan, Lieutenant General Nigar Johar appointed first female Surgeon General of Pakistan Army. Indeed a leapfrog for Pakistani women, who are contributing in all areas of national development & security. @OfficialDGISPR
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PPP Senator Sherry Rehman said it was "great" to see the officer being promoted as the Pakistan Army's first lieutenant general.
