ABBOTTABAD: Lieutenant General Iftikhar Hassan Chaudhry, Commandant of the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul, has said Pakistan came into existence through the sacrifices of one million lives, stressing that the nation’s history is deeply rooted in the sacrifices of its martyrs.
Addressing the annual prize distribution and Parents’ Day ceremony at Army Burn Hall Girls College as chief guest, Lt Gen Iftikhar Hassan Chaudhry urged young people to view the future through their own perspective and remain connected to Pakistan regardless of where their education or careers take them.
He said Pakistan’s future would remain bright as long as the country continued to live in the hearts of its people.
The PMA commandant emphasised that education was essential for character development, while training played an equally important role in shaping individuals.
He said proper upbringing and training began in the mother’s lap and were further developed through schools and educational institutions.
Lt Gen Iftikhar Hassan Chaudhry said academic qualifications alone were not enough to build responsible citizens. He noted that even highly educated parents could not consider their responsibility fulfilled if they failed to instill discipline and provide proper upbringing to their children.
He urged the younger generation to develop its own vision for the future instead of viewing the world through the perspectives of others.
Knowledge and National Identity
The PMA commandant said knowledge was a gift from Allah and encouraged students to seek knowledge regardless of the language in which it was presented.
However, he urged them to keep Pakistan alive in their hearts.
Reflecting on the rise and decline of civilisations, he questioned why people often admired ancient Greek civilisation while viewing the Mughal period through limited historical references.
He said the Mughal, Chinese and Ottoman civilisations had once contributed significantly to global economic output, while today Pakistan and other developing societies faced challenges competing with more economically dominant countries.
Referring to China’s development, he said China had awakened and it was now time for Pakistan to do the same.
Students Showcase Cultural and Academic Talent
Earlier, Colonel Zil Hussain Dar, Principal of Army Burn Hall College, presented a comprehensive report on the annual examinations and co-curricular activities.
Students showcased their talents through karate, gymnastics, physical training, tableaux, puppet shows and a portrayal of the historical character Anarkali.
They also presented cultural programmes representing Punjab, Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as well as Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The chief guest presented awards to high-achieving students, including the Chief of Army Staff Gold Medal, Pride of Burn Hall badge, Golden Badge, scholarships and other awards for excellence.
Teachers who demonstrated outstanding performance were also honoured with Best Teacher awards.
Brigadier Raja Zeeshan presented a special commemorative shield to the chief guest at the conclusion of the ceremony.