GUJRANWALA, Dec 18: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has paid rich tributes to the competence of army aviators.

He was speaking at the graduation ceremony of the P-43 course at the Army Aviation School here on Thursday.

He said that army aviation had, over the years, acquired the desired degree of self-reliance and its performance during war and peace had remained par excellence.

The president said that the army aviators had met all challenges with courage and professionalism and had thus attained for themselves a rightful place among the leading arms of Pakistan Army.

This should be a matter of pride for the aviators and a source of inspiration for the graduating officers.

Commenting on the role of the army aviation, the president said that it had provided a third dimension to the battlefield. Its ability to augment mobility, firepower and quick reaction in the changing battlefield scenarios provide the field commanders with a versatile arm and force multiplier for the field army.

The president said that due priority was being accorded to the equipment, training and other requirements of this vital segment of the army.

He praised the role of the school in making the army aviation self-reliant in all training requirements.

Gen Musharraf congratulated the graduating officers and exhorted them to display fortitude, courage, determination and professionalism in the new missions that were awaiting them.

He asked the graduating officers to further consolidate the skills that they have acquired and expressed the hope that they would live up to the expectations reposed in them.

He also congratulated the five graduating students from the brotherly Muslim country of Saudi Arabia.

The president presented flying brevets and trophies to the graduating officers and those achieving distinction in various disciplines of the course.

Capt Zahid, Capt Khurram and Lt Sohail bin Shafique were awarded the academics, best pilot trophy and over all best performance trophies, respectively.

Inter-group safety trophy for the year 2001 was received by Brig Javed Iqbal, the commander of the army aviation group, Multan. Lt-Col Mahmood Islam received the trophy for inter-squadron safe flying for the year 2001. The president also witnessed an enthralling air show and display by the army aviators.

Earlier on arrival, the president was received by Corps Commander Lt-Gen Faiz Gilani, Army Aviation General Officer Commanding Maj-Gen Muhammad Azam and Army Aviation School Commandant Brig Muhammad Nasir.