Lieutenant General Nigar Johar: Woman of Steel

Lieutenant General Nigar Johar is a name that has become synonymous with empowerment, commitment, and pioneering success in the Pakistan Army. She was appointed as a lieutenant general in June 2020. It was a milestone moment in the nation’s military history as it broke traditional barriers and opened doors for generations of female soldiers to come. She is believed to be the first female lieutenant general not only in Pakistan but around the world. Her own career is one of pure merit and unshakeable determination. It is a testament not only to her individual resilience but also to the slow but marked shift within the Pakistan Army towards assigning more and more leadership roles to women. 

Lt Gen Nigar Johar was born in Swabi, KP. She comes from a family with a robust military tradition. Her early exposure to military culture instilled in her a profound sense of commitment to service and a passion to serve in the defense of the country. After finishing her medical degree from the Army Medical College, she joined the Pakistan Army Medical Corps (AMC). Her professional skills as a pathologist made her well-known and respected in the medical community of the armed forces. 

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During her service tenure, Lt Gen Nigar Johar has served in several important command and staff capacities. Her attention to detail, leadership skills as well as deep knowledge of medical administration distinguished her. Before being elevated to the rank of lieutenant general, she was the Commandant of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) in Rawalpindi. This is a highly respected and important institution that deals with diagnostic services, research and blood transfusion services for the entire military. Her period at AFIP has been defined by innovation and modernization efforts. This role established her image as a competent and innovative officer.

The promotion of Lt Gen Nigar Johar to the three-star general rank was celebrated throughout Pakistan. Media houses marked it as a historic turning point that shattered the glass ceiling in a predominantly male institution. Her promotion carries a symbolic value for women in the military and, by extension, for Pakistan as a nation. She was lauded as a direct product of the changing dynamics among the military leadership when it comes to women. Many quarters have tried to pit women and the military against each other in Pakistan’s history but this promotion single-handedly decimated all myths of the sort.

The promotion of Lt Gen Nigar Johar is not a solo occurrence but reflective of a wider shift in the Pakistan Army towards the presence of women. Traditionally, women in the army were mostly confined to the Medical Corps or to administrative and support services. Recent years have seen openings for women serving in combat-support capacities, education corps, signals, sappers as well as logistics and even a few specialized combat positions. The Frontier Corps even commissions women as soldiers. With no specified limit in sight, female officers are now taking up leadership roles, commanding units as well as taking part in operational roles. The role in combat units is, however, limited due to cultural as well as religious nuances and sensitivity around sending women to fight.

Female officers are making their presence known in military parades and ceremonies. It shows that they are becoming more integrated into the official hierarchy of the armed forces by each passing year. The elevation of women to higher ranks, including Lt Gen Nigar Johar’s promotion, is a strong indicator of the Pakistan Army’s commitment to identifying and rewarding talent regardless of gender. This is not a new practice as Pakistan had around four female major generals including Nigar Johar before she was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general. It is also consistent with international trends in contemporary militaries where the role of women is being increasingly recognized as well as appreciated.

The process toward achieving full gender parity in the Pakistan Army is still ongoing. Issues of societal attitudes, institutional reforms, and providing equal opportunities to all branches and levels have yet to be tackled. The general public’s apprehension towards sending their daughters to the army is slowly diminishing. It is the success stories of women such as Lt Gen Nigar Johar that act as strong driving forces for change and are compelling others within and outside the military to let their daughters dream bigger. Lt Gen Nigar Johar’s service has been one of professionalism, devotion to duty as well as looking after the welfare of  officers and soldiers under her command. She is an epitome of an excellent leader and a benchmark for all officers to emulate, gender notwithstanding.

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Lieutenant General Nigar Johar promotion to three-star general rank is a milestone in the Pakistan Army’s history as it marks a changing tide in the direction of more inclusivity and a recognition of the outstanding contributions of women in the defense of the country. Despite numerous losses in her private life, Lt Gen Nigar Johar has remained a symbol of strength and the embodiment of ‘Woman of Steel’. She is a trailblazer for other female officers like her to come in the future evident by what she foresaw in an interview:

“Yes, I am the first female Lieutenant General of the Pakistan Army but I am not the last”.