Thalassemia patient Naima Gul becomes first Lady pilot

by pakistanfront

Peshawar, MTT News Desk: It is like dream comes true of a 12-year old grade-4 student Naima Gul, a 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 a 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.