PESHAWAR: Interior Minis­­ter Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has said that troops are well prepared for any kind of challenge to protect the dignity and sovereignty of the nation.

Addressing the passing-out parade of the 28th batch of recruits of the Frontier Corps (North) at the Scouts Training Academy, Warsak, the minister paid rich tribute to the martyrs of the armed forces for sacrificing their lives to restore peace in the region.

He said the training would enable the soldiers to cope with the challenges in the line of duty.

Sheikh Rashid praised the performance of FC North and congratulated the newly-trained soldiers for joining the armed forces of Pakistan. He said the armed forces had made immense sacrifices for peace in the country.

The interior minister said the officers and soldiers of armed forces had “narrated” timeless stories of bravery. He said that the efforts of the FC for peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were unforgettable.

He said the nation was proud of the heroes who had stood fast in the hour of need.

Sheikh Rashid said the FC’s history was full of sacrifices and bravery. It had played a key role in restoration of peace, he added.

The interior minister and the Commandant Scouts Training Academy reviewed the parade.

FC Inspector General Maj Gen Adil Yaseen presented a memento to the minister.

A large number of families of martyrs, political leadership, members of civil society and elders of the areas attended the ceremony.

A smartly turned out contingent of passing-out personnel presented the parade. They took an oath of defending the motherland. A special wreath-laying ceremony was held at Yadgar-i-Shuhada.

Later, the interior minister distributed prizes among the best performing recruits during the training.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2021