Nigar Johar makes history, becomes Pakistan army’s first female lieutenant general

Tariq Butt, Correspondent

Major General Nigar Johar has made history by becoming the first female officer of the Pakistan army to be promoted to the rank of lieutenant general owing to her spectacular performance in different leadership and administrative appointments and roles.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Nigar has been appointed the first female surgeon general of Pakistan army. At present, she is serving as commandant Pak-Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi.

She is also a recipient of Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Military) and Fatima Jinnah Gold Medal for her meritorious services in the Army Medical Corps from the prime minister.

Born in Panjpir village in Swabi district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to a Pashtun family, Nigar received her early education from the Presentation Convent Girls High School, Rawalpindi in 1978 and graduated from the Army Medical College in 1985.

She is from the 5th MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) course of the Army Medical College and has served as female Company Commander at the same college.

In 2017, Nigar also became the third female officer in the history of Pakistan to reach the rank of major general. She also served as vice principal of the Army Medical College.

She served as the first-ever female deputy commandant of the Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi in 2015.

Nigar Johar is also a recipient of Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Military) and Fatima Jinnah Gold Medal for her meritorious services. 

In 2010, she completed the examination for membership of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan.

Nigar has an illustrious career in the Army Medical Corps spanning almost three decades with a rich and diverse experience in management and leadership appointments in the armed forces. She holds Membership of the College of Physicians and Surgeons (MCPS) degree in family medicine, MSc in Advance Administration and a Masters’ Degree in Public Health in addition to multiple courses. She is also the national instructor of Hospital Preparedness for emergencies.

Pakistan army’s decision of her promotion is also significant in the light of increasing number of female officers in the army and provision of equal opportunities to them ensuring gender equality.

Female officers are also seen serving in the United Nations Missions abroad.

Currently, there are 30 Pakistani female officers serving in two such teams, and yet another team was to be deployed in Congo by June 20.

Over the years, Pakistan has contributed to the UN's peacekeeping operations with over 200,000 troops in 46 missions across 28 countries.

At least 157 Pakistani service members have also been killed during these operations but Islamabad remains committed to helping the UN in building peace and restoring stability in turbulent regions.

Globally, at least 3,900 peacekeepers from different UN member nations have lost their lives while serving in different conflict zones across the world since 1948.

While Pakistan’s peacekeeping role, particularly in Africa and the Balkans, remains rather well known, the female peacekeepers the country has deployed have received rather less attention. Indeed the role of women is often glossed over even though they are understood to be vital contributors in any peacekeeping activity.