PM Shehbaz felicitates new COAS

Premier says it is a "special blessing" for the army to have a "professional leader" like General Munir

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the new Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir on the assumption of command during a telephonic conversation on Tuesday.

The premier stated that it was a great honour for Gen Munir to assume the post of COAS of the “brave” Pakistan Army. He furthered that it was a “blessing” that the military had a “professional leader” like the COAS.

“I am sure that under your leadership, the professional capabilities of the army and the strength of the homeland's defence will further increase,” PM Shehbaz said.

The prime minister also pledged his full cooperation for the support of the defence, security and protection of Pakistan.

Read Govt goes by seniority principle for change in command

COAS Gen Munir thanked PM Shehbaz for his good wishes.

Earlier today, the change of command ceremony of the Pakistan Army took place at the General Headquarters (GHQ) wherein outgoing army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa officially passed the baton to General Asim Munir as the 17th COAS of Pakistan.

The ceremony was attended by federal cabinet members, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Air Chief Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu, and other high-ranking civil and military officials as well as foreign delegates.

In his farewell address, General Bajwa felicitated Asim Munir's elevation to the seat of army chief and expressed confidence that his promotion will prove to be highly positive both for the country and Pakistan Army.