Helen Mary Robert becomes first Christian woman brigadier in Pakistan Army

Colonel Dr Helen Mary Robert has made history as the first Christian woman to be promoted to the rank of brigadier in the Pakistan Army.

A pathologist in the Pakistan Army Medical Corps, Col. Dr Helen Mary has dedicated 26 years to serving her country.

Colonel Dr Helen Meri considered it an honour to serve the country and the nation while living in the Pakistan Army.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) lauded her achievement, stating, "Colonel Dr Helen Mary is a living example of merit without distinction in the Pakistan Army."

Col. Dr Helen Mary's promotion has been seen as a beacon of hope for the Pakistani Christian community. The ISPR noted that she exemplifies the principles of merit and national representation within the military.

Read more: Minority visibility

The Pakistan Army has long upheld the vision of the nation's founder, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. In his address to the First Constituent Assembly on August 11, 1947, Jinnah declared, "You are free; whatever religion, caste or creed you belong to has nothing to do with state affairs."

On another occasion, Jinnah affirmed, "Minorities shall be deemed to be citizens of Pakistan without distinction of caste, colour, religion or creed and shall enjoy all their rights and privileges and the rights of citizenship."

The Pakistan Army embodies Jinnah's vision, making decisions without religious, linguistic, or gender discrimination.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif extended his congratulations to Helen Mary Robert on her promotion to the rank of Brigadier in the Army Medical Corps.

Also read: CM vows to safeguard minority rights

According to a statement, he said that the entire nation, including himself, extends felicitation to her. The prime minister praised Brigadier Roberts for her hard work and dedication, saying that she had proven that Pakistani women could excel in any field and were second to none.

He said that the entire nation was proud of Brigadier Roberts and the thousands of hardworking women like her from minority communities who were serving the country with distinction.

The prime minister added that Brigadier Roberts’ commitment to service, humanity, and her dedication to her work would serve as a beacon of inspiration for the young women of the next generation.