PESHAWAR: The passing out ceremony of the first batch of the Levies Force recruits tasked with security duty in North Waziristan was held on Thursday after their training under the watch of the Pakistan Army.

The ceremony was held in Mirali, the Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement, adding that the 10-week training had started on Feb 2.

A team of army officers and soldiers imparted training to the batch comprising 139 recruits with emphasis on transforming the Levies into an effective and viable force. Training module involved firing, weapon handling, map reading and physical fitness.

Maj Gen Noman Mehmood was chief guest at the ceremony.

Recruit Ikramullah clinched overall top position. In academics and firing Nazar Khan and Abdul Rauf obtained top positions, respectively.

Maj Gen Noman appreciated the role and morale of the Levies personnel in establishing the writ of the government in the militancy-infested area.

He said the force would help boast the confidence of tribes facing threats from terrorists.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2015

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