Islamabad: The National Assembly was informed today that eighty percent of fields in the Pakistan Army are now open for the recruitment of females. This significant development was shared during the Question Hour in the House.

According to Radio Pakistan, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Zeb Jaffar revealed that over five thousand women are currently serving in the Pakistan Army, with around seven hundred having been commissioned in the past three years. However, fields that require extreme physical endurance and prolonged exposure to hostile environments remain closed to women.

The Parliamentary Secretary also highlighted that the career progression for females in the Pakistan Army is guided by a dedicated career management policy. This policy includes both inclusive and exclusive programs aimed at developing and training women throughout their service.

In response to another inquiry, Zeb Jaffar reported that Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) achieved an operating profit of 9.3 billion rupees and a net profit of 26 billion rupees last year. This financial turnaround is attributed to restructuring efforts by the government. Additionally, PIA is expanding its operations to the Middle East and new destinations such as Kuala Lumpur, Baku, and Istanbul.

Earlier, a walk-out was staged by Parliamentary Reporters from the National Assembly’s press gallery, protesting the harassment of senior journalist Ijaz Ahmad by the PTI founder. Addressing the media’s walkout, Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar stressed that decency and tolerance are essential in politics. He expressed regret over the use of indecent language by the former Prime Minister against the journalist, who was covering court proceedings at Adyala Jail related to a case involving the PTI founder. The Minister condemned the trolling of the journalist on social media.

Minister Tarar emphasized the need for politicians to accept criticism and respond with dignity.