Harcharan Singh becomes Pakistan Army’s First Sikh officer promoted to Lt. Col rank

Harcharan Singh, a native of Nankana Sahib, the land of Baba Guru Nanak, has become the first Sikh officer in the Pakistan Army to be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Singh’s promotion is being hailed as a living example of how minorities can progress without discrimination in the Pakistan Army.

Since the country’s independence, all minority communities have actively contributed to Pakistan’s development and stability, with Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, and other minorities serving in significant numbers in the armed forces.

Harcharan Singh’s family originally migrated from India and settled in Kohat before moving to Nankana Sahib. After completing his FSc at FC College Lahore, he joined the Pakistan Military Academy at Kakul and was commissioned as the Pakistan Army’s first Sikh officer on 27 October 2007.

The Pakistan Army maintains a policy of religious neutrality in officer recruitment, allowing youth of all faiths to compete.

Singh’s promotion highlights this inclusive approach, while nearly 22 non-Muslim soldiers have sacrificed their lives in Pakistan’s ongoing fight against terrorism.