[Islamabad] The Pakistan Army confirmed on Saturday that Helen Mary Roberts of the Pakistan Army Medical Corps has been promoted to the rank of brigadier general, making her the first woman from an ethnic minority group to that rank in over 70 years.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Roberts and praised her hard work and dedication. “Her achievements are proof that Pakistani women can excel in any field,” Sharif said.
The Christian community is the second largest minority in Muslim-majority Pakistan, and Christians have made significant contributions to the Pakistani military, playing key roles in medical, engineering and combat forces.
Arshad Gill, an Islamabad-based Christian rights activist, told The Media Line that Roberts’ promotion was encouraging for the Christian community and Pakistan as a whole.
“Her achievements fit into our broader vision of a diverse and united Pakistan, where people from all backgrounds can aspire to the highest levels of service and leadership,” Gill said.
Although minorities have equal rights under the Pakistani constitution, Christians in Pakistan have often faced targeting and harassment. In recent years, the contributions of minority groups such as Christians have been given greater recognition, and minorities have been given more rights under the constitution.
