RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Army secured the overall Championship Trophy in 44th Pakistan Army Rifle Association (PARA) Central Meet.
In the Inter Services matches, Pakistan Army won three contests including CJCSC, COAS and CNS matches, while Pakistan Air Force won CAS contest.
Over 2000 shooters from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Civil Armed Forces including Rangers (Sindh & Punjab), teams ex Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Federal Rifle Association, Lahore Garrison Shooting Gallery (LGSG) and civilians participated in the competition.
The closing ceremony of 44th PARA Central Meet was held at Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU), Jhelum.
General Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), Chief of Army Staff (COAS) graced the occasion as Chief Guest. The mega shooting event was conducted from 14 October to 28 November 2024.
COAS Asim and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, NI (M), who was the Guest of Honor at the ceremony, awarded trophies and medals to the winners and runners up in each category.
FTR team trophy was won by Pakistan Army led by Lieutenant General Ahsan Gulrez, HI (M).
The President’s Cup National Challenge match trophy was awarded to Naik Waseem Ahmed Khan of Pakistan Army.
Pakistan Air Force won the Prime Minister ‘Skills at Arms’ Big Bore National Challenge. Azad Kashmir Regiment won the first prize in para firing matches (Infantry Squad).
The highest military shooting honor, ‘The Master at Arms’ Trophy was awarded to Sepoy Aftab Ahmed of Punjab Regiment.
The ‘Best Shot Match Trophy’ Group 2 and Group 3 was awarded to Lance Dafadar Muhammad Imran of Cavalry and Havaldar Fateh Ullah Khan of EME Battalion.
While interacting with the participants, COAS appreciated the shooters for their excellent standards of marksmanship. Calling shooting skills the hallmark of a professional soldier, he said “attaining proficiency at shooting must remain at the heart of basic military training objectives”.
Earlier on arrival, COAS was received by Commander Rawalpindi Corps. –APP