CHITRAL: Two hundred and fifty fresh recruits were inducted into the Chitral Scouts on Monday after their passing out parade here in the Drosh cantonment on Monday on completion their nine-month training.

General Officer Commanding of Pak Army, Swat Division, Maj-Gen Nadir Khan took salute of the march-past and administered oath to the jawans.

The militia, which was raised by the British in 1903, now forms a part of the Frontier Corps.

Addressing the cadets, Nadir Khan said the force had a glorious history of gallantry both in war and peace times. He said the war on terror had added to their responsibilities as they were defending the long and porous border with Afghanistan.

Gen Nadir asked the new entrants to the force to fully concentrate their attention on their professional grooming.

The army officer said the presence of Chitral Scouts would always deter terrorists and miscreants from crossing the border to carry out their nefarious activities in Pakistan.

Sector Commander of Frontier Constabulary Brigadier Ziaul Islam and Commandant of Chitral Scouts Col Nizamuddin Shah were also in attendance.

Later, Gen Nadir flew to the district headquarters, Chitral, where he inaugurated a task force of volunteers raised by the district administration which consists of young volunteers who will be readily mobilised to the spots hit by natural disasters.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Osama Ahmed Warraich said the task force would ensure that resources and manpower were streamlined and utilised as per need.

He said Chitral was lucky to have as many as 22,000 volunteers engaged in rescue and relief activities in flash flood and earthquake-hit areas.

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2015