Women in Pak Military: A story of feminine valour in pictures

Women have been part of the Pakistan Military since the country’s inception in 1947.

Since 2017, as many as 4,000 women are serving in the Military.

In 1948, then-First Lady Begum Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan helped create the women’s voluntary service.

The service was aimed to provide the Army with medical and logistical support.

This led to the creation of the first women’s unit in the Army Medical Corps.

The Pakistan Army Women National Guard was created in 1949 and Begum Ra’aana served as the guard’s first GOC and chief controller.

She was given the rank of brigadier.

In 2002, Shahida Malik became the first female major general in the Army.

The second woman to get promoted to a two-star rank was Shahida Badshah.

In 2015, then-Brigadier Nigar Johar became the first female officer to get a command post and in 2017, she became the Army’s third female major general.

In 2003, the Pakistan Air Force began training female officers for combat flights.

In 2015, Flying Officer Marium Mukhtiar became the first female PAF officer to embrace martyrdom.

Several women officers also serve in the Pakistan Navy.