An impressive ceremony was held here on Friday at Lahore Garrison to install Major General Tahir Ashraf Khan as Colonel of the Battalion of Baloch Regiment popularly known as "Fateh Chhamb" and "Toofaan".
Corps Commander Lahore Lieutenant General Shafaat Ullah Shah and Centre Commandant Baloch Regimental Centre Brigadier Tassadaq Hussain pinned the badges of rank onto the shoulders of the new honorary Colonel and presented him the Regimental Beret.
Speaking on the occasion, Corps Commander Lieutenant General Shafaat Ullah Shah said that the Baloch Regiment cherishes a long history of dedicated efforts for the defence of the motherland.
He said that the feats of valour demonstrated by the brave sons of the battalion bears testimony to its commitment for safeguarding the national sovereignty and pride. He praised the contributions made by Brigadier Sohail Alvi former honorary Colonel of the battalion for the remarkable achievements during his tenure.
He expressed the hope that the battalion would greatly benefit from the professional experience and able command of its new Colonel of the Battalion, Major General Tahir Ashraf Khan.
Congratulating the unit for its selection for UN peacekeeping mission in Sudan, he said that it definitely speaks of their devotion to duty. He exhorted the officers and jawans to work with even greater zeal during their assignment abroad as their every action would reflect their professional calibre.
Speaking at the ceremony, Major General Tahir Ashraf Khan recalled his long association with the unit. He said that he was proud to be a recipient of this distinctive rank and takes pride for some of the onerous achievements made by the battalion under his command at worlds highest battle ground at Siachen. He thanked the officers and jawans for reposing confidence in him and reiterated his desire to live up to their expectations.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Commanding Officer of the battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Sajid Azam traced the unit history and paid glowing tributes to Shuhada and Ghazis for rendering sacrifices for the motherland.
Besides, General Officers Commanding, Major General Shaukat Sultan Khan, Major General Raheel Sharif, Major General Haroon Aslam Director General Pakistan Rangers (Punjab), Major General Tahir Mehmood Malik, Major General Ali Baz (Retd) the ceremony was attended by a large number of serving and retired officers, Junior Commissioned officers and Jawans of the battalion.