JHELUM – Field Marshal Asim Munir, Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Asim Munir shared strong message on military professionalism, stressing that mastery of small arms must remain a fundamental part of every soldier’s training.
Pakistan Army showcased its shooting supremacy by securing major championship titles at 46th Pakistan Army Rifle Association (PARA) Central Meet, which concluded with a grand ceremony at the Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) in Jhelum on Wednesday.
Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), attended the closing ceremony as chief guest, recognising outstanding marksmen who demonstrated exceptional precision, shooting proficiency and competitive skills during the prestigious military event.
The mega shooting competition, held from October 7 to November 11, 2026, brought together more than 1,500 shooters from across Pakistan, making it a major gathering of military, paramilitary and civilian shooting talent. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf attended as guest of honour. Both senior military leaders presented trophies and medals to champions and runners-up in various categories.
Army emerged as overall winner of the 4th Inter-Services Combat Shooting Championship, outperforming its competitors to claim the coveted championship trophy. Adding to the Army’s achievements, the Army Marksmanship Unit secured the Prime Minister’s “Skills at Arms” Big Bore National Challenge Match title, further highlighting its expertise in precision shooting.
One of ceremony’s biggest moments came when Havildar Fazal Rehman of the Punjab Regiment was awarded the prestigious “Master at Arms” Trophy, popularly known as the Doli Cup, the highest military shooting honour. Punjab Regiment also delivered a commanding performance, winning both the Unit Firing Proficiency Match and the Infantry Squad Match.
The competition featured marksmen from the Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Air Force, alongside participants representing several Civil Armed Forces organisations. Punjab Rangers, Sindh Rangers and Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts were among the participating forces, while shooting teams from Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and the Federal Rifle Association also joined the competition.
Interacting with participants, Field Marshal Asim Munir praised shooters for their remarkable accuracy, discipline and professional expertise, describing shooting proficiency as a defining characteristic of a well-trained soldier. He stressed that mastery of small arms should remain central to military training, highlighting the importance of developing fundamental combat skills from the earliest stages of a soldier’s professional career.
Army Chief stressed that effective weapons handling and shooting accuracy are essential elements of military professionalism and operational preparedness. His remarks reinforced importance of marksmanship training in ensuring that soldiers maintain the skills required to perform effectively in demanding operational environments.
The closing ceremony brought together senior military leadership, competitors and award recipients to celebrate the achievements recorded during the 36-day event.
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