Visit to Pakistan Army Museum, Rawalpindi

Museums all around the world attract a large number of visitors and tourists for here in the museums one can see history compressed and preserved in a few halls and galleries. But unlike ordinary museums, army museums always attract visitors to see weapons from very close quarters otherwise only seen in movies and war documentaries and documents.

Rawalpindi in Pakistan has always been a military city and a garrison - or I would say it because of the the Rawalpindi garrison that the city thrived and became one of the important cities of Pakistan - located next to its capital Islamabad. 

And it is here, just a few hundred meters from the main entrance of Pakistan Army General Headquarters, is the Army Museum situated. Although the museum in its present location was established in 1961, but it is only recently that it has become one of the largest museums of Pakistan equipped with tons of military equipments and weapons dating back to centuries after centuries. 

Very recently, a friend of mine Major Imran along with his children visited the museum and I am sharing his photos after seeking his consent to present to my readers with a pictorial tour of his visit.

Depicting the address by Jinnah, founder of Pakistan, at a colour presentation ceremony of an army unit

The staff car used by General Muhammad Ayub Khan (later president of Pakistan) as first native commander in chief of the armed forces

Posing in front of the gallery of Chiefs of the Army Staff of Pakistan Army

The bows and arrows and armour of soldiers

The people of Pakitan - the Pakistan Army defends

A depiction of life of soldiers  at Siachen fighting at the highest battle of the world

Motorcyclists or the despatch riders (DR) play an important role in taking messages in the battlefield. With the passage of time, their role has somewhat been restricted due to more secure and speedier electronic means. Nevertheless, these still continue to play their important role even today. 

Motorcycles also give faster mobility to the military police personnel for traffic control and supervision of convoys and coordination of moves of large bodies of troops using the same axis or roads. 

My friend being from the air defence branch of the army seems to have spent more time in the army air defence pavilion - and his children too seem to interested in weapons and other pieces of information and historical value.

Imran's son posing in front of a painting depicting the Dacca airfield at Kurmitola, where one of the air defence regiments of Pakistan shot down 23 enemy aircraft and created a world record - the unit is known as The Glorious for its extraordinary performance

The junior crew of the artillery gun

Amid the arsenal

Imran's younger daughter posing in front of the uniforms of cadets of Pakistan Military Academy, specially that of a female cadet - may be one day she too gets the honour to wear the complete uniform, peak-cap already worn. 

It may be added that recently Pakistan Army, and Air Force and Navy as well, have opened doors for the females to join the forces and defend the country along with their brethren. Previously females were inducted only as doctors - now females are serving even fighter pilots. Recently, a brave daughter of the soil Flying Officer Mukhtiar perished in an air crash while on a training mission in a F-7P fighter aircraft.

Playing the trumpet

The artillery and armoured corps pavilion also include the Muzzle Loader Gun of Sher Shah Suri dated 16th century which was used by Sher Shah Suri against Ghakars of Punjab

Mules are very important means of transportation in the mountains and hilly areas. Despite the advancement in mobility means, mules continue to play an important part in supplying rations and ammunition to posts otherwise inaccessible by all mechanical means. Mules have the capability to hold ground and once they put their feet on ground, they stick to it and thus play as a very reliable means of transportation.

Outside the museum, a large number tanks, self propelled artillery, anti aircraft guns, vehicles and helicopters are displayed. Besides, emergency bridges for river crossing of tanks and statues of some warriors are displayed - prominent among these is the statue of Subedar Khuda Dad Khan: the first Indian, South Asian who got Victoria Cross at Holay Becks Belgium in 1914. The tanks also include Sherman Tank captured in Indo-Pak war of 1965 at Chamb Jaurian.

Imran with his daughter - could not select any of the three motorcycles/scooter 

The clock of the Khem Karan Railway station captured by Pakistan Army during 1965 Indo-Pakistan war

Should you want to visit the army Museum, here are the essential details:

Address: Iftikhar Khan Janjua Road , Rawalpindi, Pakistan , Rawalpindi , 46000 , Pakistan

(Located next to the Army Library - behind the Pearl Continental Hotel) 

Hours: 09:00-15:00 Wed-Mon, 09:00-12:00 Tue

Phone: 00-92-51-56132608, 00-92-51-56131449

If you like Jaho Jalal, please follow us on Facebook
Follow @JalalsPages

Read More

Woman Pilot of Pakistan Air Force Perishes in Air Crash

It was a sad day today indeed for all Pakistanis as a brave and daring daughter of the soil perished in an air crash in a routine training mission near kacha area, Gurjat close to Mianwali, Tuesday 24 November today.

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Flying Officer Marium Mukhtiar thus became the first female pilot to have perished in line of her duty and joins many of her brothers that have sacrificed their lives for the defence of their country. 

Reportedly, Flying Officer Marium Mukhtiar was co-piloting a PAF FT-7PG flown by Squadron Leader Saqib Abbasi when it developed a technical fault. Both pilots ejected the aircraft before it crashed and succumbed severe injuries. They were evacuated nearby military hospital, where Flying Officer Marium Mukhtiar succumbed to her injuries. As per reports, the two pilots did their best to avoid the aircraft hitting the populated areas on ground and in the process had come to close to the ground when they finally ejected. Although the aircraft was equipped with the Martin Baker Mk10 zero-zero ejection seats, the fatality of both pilots can thus be attributed to the rather delayed ejection.

Marium always wanted to do something different and was inspired by the pomp and awe of the life of the fighter pilots. Stepping into the cockpit of a fighter jest was thus her challenge to accomplish. And she entered the window of opportunity when Pakistan Air Force opened its doors to the daughters of the country.

Although her mother had been concerned about her decision to join the force, she went ahead with her dream and became one of the few female pilots in Pakistan Air Force.

Just 24 years of age, she was hoping to challenge the enemy one day in a dog fight. But her life was too short for her dreams of catching an enemy mid air. 

Watch a video by BBC in which Marium appears and shares her dreams and aspirations:

Flying Officer Marium Mukhtiar shaheed - November 24, 2015
Posted by PAF Falcons Shop on Tuesday, November 24, 2015

More will be added as more is known about Marium Mukhtiar.

If you like Jaho Jalal, please follow us on Facebook

Read More

Beware of Magnesium Deficiency

Nature has designed and build our bodies with a complex operating system. Unless the input to the operating system are correct, the system may malfunction - sometimes with very adverse results. We there must be cognizant of maintaining levels of various minerals and other required healthy substances.

While consuming various supplements, we generally consume calcium for strengthening bones and other deficiencies - but a recent research shows that magnesium deficiency is more pronounced in patients suffering from osteoporosis or the brittling of bones rather than calcium deficiency as commonly believed.

In fact doctors and nutrients warn that over 90% people are magnesium deficient and try to cure their deficiency symptoms with calcium rather than the actual deficient magnesium supplements or even adding diets rich in magnesium.

Those suffering from following ailments should be concerned about their magnesium deficiency and get a detailed blood test to ascertain the truth behind their ailments.

Following are some of the indicators and signs of magnesium deficiency:Muscle spasms and cramps

• Arteries calcification - linked with heart diseases and heart attack
• High blood pressure / Hypertension - low magnesium level leads to blood pressure and hypertension
• Anxiety and depression - magnesium deficiency can lead to neuron damage and cell death
• Hormone problems - pregnant women have lower magnesium level as estrogen and progesterone levels become higher. That is the reason why pregnant women suffer from cramps in the legs and also in the second half of their menstrual cycle when estrogen and progesterone are also higher and magnesium level is lower. 
• Sleep problems  - Magnesium can also affect the good night sleep
• Low energy - magnesium deficiency can lead to lack of desire, low energy, fatigue and other problems
• Deficiencies of other minerals - Magnesium deficiency can inhibit or slow down proper use of Vitamin K and D, potassium, calcium and many other nutrients

So what to do? Well doctors and nutrients stress on maintaining health level of magnesium in the body and if one or more above mention symptoms are notices, specially low energy and fatigue and sleepless nights, it is time to get a magnesium level check up. And if there is a magnesium deficiency, use supplement and consume foods that are rich in magnesium, like:

• Banana
• Spinach
• Black beans
• Pumpkin seeds
• Almonds
• Figs
• Avocado
• Chard
• Dark chocolate

Don't delay to check your magnesium level - you have been warned!!

Source: My Healthy Lifestyle

If you like Jaho Jalal, please follow us on Facebook

Read More

Tracey Curtis's biplane touches down in Pakistan

(PHOTO: AYSHA SALEEM/Express)

Pakistan's Arabian Sea coastline has always been a touchdown must for many aviation expeditions and record breaking flights. Lat Tuesday, a Canadian female aviator Tracey Curtis touched down in Karachi in a 1942 Boeing Stearman bi-plane 'Spirit of Artemis.'

Tracey Curtis' journey in her bi-plane is a sort of dedication and paying homage to Amy Johnson, the pioneering British aviator, and emulate Johnson’s epic solo flight from Britain to Australia in 1930 by following Johnson’s route to relive her dramatic adventures.

The 53-year-old Miss Curtis embarked upon a 13,000-mile solo flight in a vintage open-cockpit biplane on October 1, 2015. She was received on the Quaid-e-Azam International airport by Air Marshal Salman Ahsan Bukhari of Pakistan Air Force (Pictured above), John A Tucknott, British deputy high commissioner of Pakistan and Engro chairperson Hussain Dawood.

Curtis’ flight is expected to take 12 to14 weeks with her arrival in Sydney in early 2016. Her flight from Farnborough, England, has so far touched down destinations across Europe and the Mediterranean to Jordan, over the Arabian Desert, across the Gulf of Oman to Pakistan. Continuing her journey to India, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, she will finally cross the Timor Sea to Australia.

Tracy with Pakistan Air Force officer  Squadron Leader Saira Batool at Gwader airport (Photo APP)

Earlier, Tracey Curtis touched down at Gwader seaport of Pakistan on Monday. On her arrival she was received by Squadron Leader Saira Batool, a lady pilot of Pakistan Air Force. Later Tracy endorsed her remarks on her Facebook: "Overwhelming reception in ‪Gwadar. Unbelievable welcome by C-47 and honoured to meet Air Force pilot Saira and now high on cliffs overlooking the Arabian Sea. Blown away by it all."

During her short stay in Karachi, Curtis will visit Dawood Public School and interact with more than 2,000 female students. The event is being organised by Engro Corporation, Habib Bank Limited and the Dawood Foundation.

Welcoming Tracy Curtis, John A Tucknott, British deputy high commissioner of Pakistan, said that he was delighted to welcome Curtis to Pakistan. “I have been living in Pakistan for the last two years, and I find it to be one of the most colourful and culturally rich nations.”

Sources |Express Tribune-17 November|Express Tribune-18 November

If you like Jaho Jalal, please follow us on Facebook

Read More