Thalassemia patient Naima Gul becomes first Lady pilot
Peshawar,
MTT News Desk: It is like dream comes true of a 12-year old grade-4
student Naima Gul, resident of Mingora, Swat when she became the first
lady pilot of the Pakistan Army Aviation when her wish was granted by
Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani here Wednesday.
Fulfilling her desire for which she
wrote a letter in which dream girl Naima Gul expressed her wish to the
Chief of the Army Staff and his prompt reply with an approval of
inducting the child, suffering from blood Thalassemia, as a first
aviation lady pilot of 9 squadron in Pakistan’s Army history.
“I
don’t know about how long I live but today is the dream day for me, the
soldier of a day soft spoken Niama Gul said with great confidence.
“I will live for my country and will die
for it,” she added. “In whatever capacity my beloved country needs my
services I’m ready to perform despite suffering from a killer disease,”
Naima Gul said a while
before her first flight.
“I’m lucky to have prompt reply from the
Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani who not only fulfilled
my dreams but also gave courage to me and others like me to fight
against this deadly disease,” she added. “I want to help out the patient
suffering from this deadly disease through establishing “Naima Gul
Foundation.”
“I
will not be there but through the foundation I want to help out free
medication like provision of disprol injection, costing Rs. 180 per as
Naima herself taking it one a day for five days a week.
With my
induction as the first lady pilot of Pakistan Army Aviation will
certainly give me a chance to create awareness to the thousands of
mothers and fathers who didn’t know how to face these challenges" Naima
further added.
The ceremony in this connection was started with
the recitation from the Holy Quran, before her medical check-up when she
arrived in the morning at Aviation Base, followed by welcome addressing
by Lt. Col. Riazat, Commander Aviation Base. After Naima Gul speech,
Lt. Gen. Asif Yasin Malik awarded her enrollment letter, flying badge
and aviation jacket.
Naima was taken to lay floral-wreath on
the Shuhada Monument along with Lt. Gen Asif Yasin Malik and other high
military officials. Her instructor Major Zahid took her to the simulator
room a famous saying inscribed on the wall “he who learns but does not
thinks is lost. He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.
”After that she came to operational
room, and was briefed about map marking to help her evacuate an injured
man after her first flight of 5 nautical (9.6km). A demonstration of her
first flight on a lama chopper, evacuation of an injured person and
shifted him to the hospital besides Naima had full round of the base
where she was briefed about operational system of the squadron. She also
met with the engineers.
In
his speech Corps Commander Lt Gen Yasin Malik, Commander 11 Corps said
that today we gathered here for a unique aim for fulfilling the
cherished dream of a Thalassemia patient, Naima Gul, daughter of great
Swat valley, for her induction into Army Aviation.
The wish of Naima Gul has clearly
reflected the respect, recognition and high reverence of people of Swat
towards Pakistan’s army. In recent past, Swat that was famous for its
matchless beauty, but it remained in clutches of terrorists and the
lively people of Swat had faced cruelty and brutality.
The Corps
Commander said our brave and valiant soldiers had rendered matchless
sacrifices for making Swat valley a cradle of peace after task of
restoring peace was assigned to Pakistan army. He said that this
momentous success was possible due to extended support of people of
Swat.
The role of Pakistan Army was not only
limited to establish durable peace in Swat but also to play major role
in construction and development of the destroyed infrastructure in
affected areas. The worst floods had increased our challenges manifolds
but due to grace of Allah Almighty and hard work and professionalism of
army, we lived up to the expectations of people of Swat.
He said women role are not only
increasing in Pakistan but also in army where they are working shoulder
to shoulder with different departments and are proving their metal of
capabilities with great success.
“One
behalf of Chief of Army Staff, 11 Corps, Army Aviation especially 9
Squadron, I congratulate Niama Gul and his family,” he added. The
induction of Niama Gul in Army Aviation has not only made a new history
but also added a new colour to army aviation of becoming first women
pilot. Indeed, the role of Army Aviation in Swat was not only important
but was highly commendable for which all deserve appreciation.
Naima
Gul’s father Zabat Ullah Sohail, her mother Shabana Anjum, her younger
sister Roqia Manal were also there and saw Naima while flying the Lama
chopper. “I’m a proud man today, as my daughter got the honor of
becoming the first lady pilot in Pakistan Army, an army whose jawans
gave matchless sacrifices to have peace for the people of Swat and in
the rest of Pakistan,” Zabat Ullah told APP. Her mother while commenting
on this occasion also thanked the Chief of Army Staff, Corps Commander
Peshawar and other officials for paying heat to her daughter’s sweet
dream.
She lauded Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani for
giving prompt reply to a little girl living in Matta Kore, a village of
Swat. “If he cares a little girl then imagine how he cares of the whole
nation of being the Chief of the Army Staff,” Niama mother said while
tears rolling down her cheeks.
“We are proud parents,” she added. Now
with her enrollment as honorary aviation pilot for a day, her treatment
would also be free along with her education. “We are happy that Army
would carry out all medication and education expenses of Naima,” her
father said.
http://www.markthetruth.com/pakistan/1532-thalassemia-patient-naima-g...
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Freelance Writer & Researcher
Rawalpindi, Pakistan
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