In a first, Pakistan’s army has promoted the first Christian female officer to the rank of brigadier, Arab News reported.

“She is the first female officer from a minority community to achieve this rank,” the news outlet reported while quoting the Inter-Services Public Relations on Saturday.

Brig Helen Mary Roberts is affiliated with the Army Medical Corps and has made history as the first female army officer from a minority to reach such a rank.

She joins the illustrious list of army officers from her community who have served their motherland in similar or higher capacities.

Pakistani Christians have made significant contributions to the armed forces, with one of them being Second Lt Daniel Utarid Shaheed who led his men to the front in the 1971 war.

In reaction to the historic development, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Helen Mary Roberts on her promotion.

“Brigadier Roberts, a member of the Pakistani Christian community, has made history by becoming the first woman from a minority background to achieve this prestigious rank,” the Associated Press of Pakistan reported while quoting the prime minister’s statement.

He said the entire nation including himself extended felicitation to her. The prime minister praised Brigadier Roberts for her hard work and dedication, saying that she had “proven that Pakistani women could excel in any field and were second to none.”

The entire nation was “proud of Brigadier Roberts and the thousands of hardworking women like her from minority communities” who were serving the country with distinction.

PM Shehbaz added that Brigadier Roberts’ commitment to service, humanity, and her dedication to her work would serve as a “beacon of inspiration for the young women of the next generation.”