New Delhi, February 12, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
In a landmark development, Harcharan Singh has become the first Sikh officer in Pakistan’s modern military history to be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Pakistan Army.
Born in 1987 in Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, Lt Col Harcharan Singh’s elevation is being viewed as a significant milestone for merit and representation within the country’s armed forces.
Early Life and Military Career
Harcharan Singh completed his early education at Government Guru Nanak High School and later pursued FSc (Pre-Engineering) from Forman Christian College, Lahore. After clearing the Inter Services Selection Board (ISSB) examination in 2006, he joined the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA).
He was commissioned into the Pakistan Army on October 27, 2007, from the 116th PMA Long Course, becoming the first Sikh officer to be commissioned in the Pakistan Army after the country’s independence in 1947.
Initially inducted into the Ordnance Corps, Lt Col Singh later volunteered for a combat role. He was subsequently posted to the 12th Battalion of the Baloch Regiment, where he served in challenging operational and border areas. Over nearly two decades of service, he earned recognition for professionalism, leadership, and dedication.
His promotion to Lieutenant Colonel was approved following a rigorous selection board evaluation conducted in late 2025.
At present, Lt Col Singh is posted in Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Reactions from Community and Officials
Ramesh Singh Arora, Punjab’s Provincial Minister for Minorities Affairs, described the achievement as historic. He noted that while members of the Christian community have previously served in the Pakistan Army at senior levels, no Hindu or Sikh officer had earlier attained this rank.
He stated that Lt Col Singh’s elevation demonstrates that merit remains the determining factor in professional advancement. The minister added that the Sikh community plans to accord him a warm welcome when he visits his hometown.
Expressing pride over the development, Mastan Singh, former president of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, termed the promotion a moment of honour for the Sikh community and for Nankana Sahib.
Broader Significance
Minority representation within Pakistan’s institutional framework has often been a subject of discussion. Observers view Lt Col Singh’s promotion as symbolically important in the context of inclusion and equal opportunity within state institutions.
Married since December 3, 2017, Lt Col Singh’s journey from Nankana Sahib to a senior rank in the Pakistan Army is being widely acknowledged as a notable achievement for both the Sikh community and the country’s armed forces.
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