The 29th batch of Pakistan Coast Guards (PCG) has vowed to defend the country whenever and wherever called to do so. At the passing out parade held at the Training Wing Pakistan Coast Guards, Korangi, as many as 220 recruits took oath to serve the country selflessly and devotedly.
Provincial Minister for Culture and Tourism, Rauf Siddiqui was the chief guest in place of Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan who is presently on foreign visit. Director General (DG) Pakistan Coast Guard (PCG), Brigadier Firzok Attaullah, and several other officials, besides a large number of civilians and relatives of the passing out recruits were present on the occasion.
Addressing the ceremony, Rauf Siddiqui lauded the efforts of Pakistan Coast Guards (PCG) in foiling human and drug smuggling bids. He announced Rs 0.5 million to the Pakistan Coast Guards, saying that he will recommend further funds allocation for it. He also announced award of performance certificates to the passing out soldiers on behalf of Sindh Government. He urged the recruits to safeguard country's geographical boundaries in order to defend its ideology.
He regretted that there were about 40 million drug addicts are in the country, implying that country's future pertaining to its youth is not satisfactory. "It is a dreadful situation for any nation when a huge population becomes drug addict," he said.
Brigadier Firzok Attaullah in his speech apprised that among the 29th batch of Pakistan Coast Guards, all recruits are swimmer and divers, which was a historic achievement. He thanked government and donor countries for providing the Guards with latest weapons, boats, wireless system, etc, saying that presently its capabilities have enhanced manifolds as compared to past.
He said Coast Guards have so far more than 8,000 human traffickers on borders, adding that half of them are foreigners. He said Coast Guards have eliminated the human trafficking and drug trafficking to a greater extent. He said drug is the lethal menace to entire nation as about 40 million people have fallen victim to it due to high ratio of drug production in the neighbouring Afghanistan.
Firzok vowed to clamp down on human and drug trafficker, saying that Guards will continue their professional activities on borders to secure them from criminals.
Earlier, Rauf Siddiqui gave away the awards amongst the successful recruits for the extra-ordinary performance during training. The successful recruits are Muhammad Ismail, Abdul Saboor, Sajid Abassi, Rizwan Afzal, Zahir-ur-Rehman and Iftikhar Ahmed. Brigadier Firzok also presented the souvenir to Rauf Siddiqui.