Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa Wednesday said the internal security situation of Pakistan has largely improved paving the way for foreign investment in the country.

“We will continue to play our part in ensuring secure environment for business and entrepreneurship in Pakistan by both local and foreign investors,” the army chief said during his visit to the forward troops in Gadra Sector in Sindh.

The COAS commended operational preparedness and high state of morale of the troops. He said Pakistan Army is fully committed to guard the frontiers of the country.

Later, the army chief visited Thar Coal project. He was given detailed briefing on the progress of the pilot projects. Fauji Fertilizer Company Managing Director Lieutenant General (r) Tariq Khan received the COAS upon his arrival. Commander Karachi Corps Lieutenant General Humayun Aziz also accompanied the COAS during the visit.

Separately, the army chief witnessed the ongoing Pak-China International Air Exercise Shaheen-VII at an operational airbase of the Pakistan Air Force. On his arrival, he was received by Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan.

While interacting with the combat crew, the COAS lauded professionalism of the participants of the exercise and appreciated the efforts of the PAF and the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) in conducting international air exercise in a befitting manner. While highlighting the exemplary relations between Pakistan and China, the COAS said the exercise would further strengthen and promote the friendship, exchanges and cooperation between the two nations and their armed forces.

The exercise is seventh in the series of Shaheen exercises and is conducted each year on alternate basis.

On Wednesday, the COAS also visited Army Air Defence Centre Karachi and installed Lieutenant General Hamooduz Zaman Khan as Colonel Commandant of Army Air Defence Corps. The COAS appreciated the corps for their contributions in war against terrorism. A large number of serving and retired officers and soldiers from Army Air Defence attended the ceremony.

Published in Daily Times, December 13^th 2018.