Dr. Helen Mary Robert became the first Christian woman to be promoted to the rank of brigadier in the Pakistan Army.
Brigadier Dr. Helen Mary, a pathologist in the Pakistan Army Medical Corps, has been serving her country for the last 26 years.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), "Brigadier Dr. Helen Mary is a living example of merit without distinction in the Pakistan Army."
Brigadier Dr. Helen Mary's elevation has been viewed as a sign of optimism for the Pakistani Christian community. The ISPR stated that she embodies the concepts of excellence and national representation in the military.
The ISPR also quoted Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s statement that “minorities shall be deemed to be citizens of Pakistan without distinction of caste, color, religion, or creed and shall enjoy all their rights and privileges and the rights of citizenship.” It said the army makes its decisions “regardless of religious, linguistic, and gender discrimination.”.
The statement quoted her as saying that serving in the army was “a great honor” for her.
In a post on X, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Brigadier Roberts on her promotion, saying, "Brigadier Helen Mary Roberts is the first female Brigadier from a minority community in Pakistan; the entire nation, including me, congratulates her."