Dr. Helen Mary Roberts Becomes First Minority Woman Brigadier in Pakistan

Islamabad, Pakistan: Dr Helen Mary Roberts, serving in the Medical Corps of the Pakistan Army, has created history by becoming the first Christian and minority community woman to achieve the rank of Brigadier in the history of the country. According to a report published in Pakistan's daily newspaper 'The News' on Sunday, Brigadier Helen is among the Pakistani Army officers who were promoted as Brigadier and Full Colonel by the Selection Board.

First woman from minority community becomes Brigadier in Pakistan

Congratulations to Helen Mary Roberts, who has just made history as the first-ever Christian and the first-ever woman from a religious minority to be promoted to the rank of Brigadier in Pakistan Army. She serves in the Army Medical Corps. #GenderEquality 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/jcCaT4s5NC

— United Nations Pakistan - اقوام متحدہ پاکستان (@UNinPak) June 1, 2024

• Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif congratulated Helen on being promoted as Brigadier and said that the whole country is proud of her and thousands of hardworking women like her from minority communities who are serving the country.

• Shahbaz Sharif said, I and the whole country congratulate Brigadier Helen Mary Roberts on getting the honour of being the first woman from the minority community to be promoted to the rank of Brigadier in the Pakistan Army.

Who is Helen Mary Roberts?

Last year, during the Christmas celebrations at Christ Church in Rawalpindi, Army Chief General Asim Munir had praised the role of the Christian community in the development of Pakistan. He cited their contributions to promoting quality education, healthcare and philanthropy as well as national defence.

Brigadier Dr Helen Mary Roberts is a senior physician who served as a pathologist in the Army Medical Corps and has been serving in the Pakistan Army for the past 26 years. He termed her "another living example of merit and national representation" in the Pakistan Army.

Prior to Brigadier Roberts, Major General Nigar Johar broke gender barriers in June 2020 by becoming the first female officer in the country to be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and became the first female Surgeon General of the Pakistan Army.