Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif, said Monday that the security forces have cleared the most difficult terrain from the militants. "Our performance in recent operations has been phenomenal and we have cleansed large remote areas of terrorists in the most treacherous terrain and in the most trying circumstances owing to fitness and professionalism of our officers and men," he said at the concluding ceremony of 4th Army 'Physical Agility and Combat Efficiency System' (PACES) Championship at Kharian.
"This makes us the most accomplished Army that the world now recognises and the nation rightly takes pride in. We must continue to train hard in peace time to be able to take on multi-dimensional potential challenges so characteristic of any future conflict."
Talking to officers and troops, CoAS showed his satisfaction over objectives of new physical standards, so essential for future battlefield environment, achieved through this new fitness regime. He specially underlined the importance of individual soldier's physical efficiency and combat worthiness for success of counter terrorism operations.
Later, CoAS gave away trophies to winner and runner up teams and medals for best individual performances. 100 "Fittest of the Fit" and 5 "Super Fit" soldiers of Pakistan Army were awarded certificates and insignias. Naik Muhammad Mateen was declared overall best player of the PACES championship 2015, whereas Sepoy Haffiz Allah Dad, Naik Muhammad Mateen, Gunner Sikandar Hayat, Sepoy Naveed Ashraf and Naik Qasim Ali secured first positions in respective Combat Efficiency Tests. Earlier on arrival at Kharian, Chief of Army Staff was received by Lieutenant General Mian Muhammad Hilal, Corps Commander 1 Corps.