Punjab Regiment

Introduction The name “Punjab” (pun’jab, pun-jab) means “land of five rivers” and derives from the Persian words ‘punj’ meaning five, and ‘ab’ meaning water. The rivers, tributaries of the Indus River, are the Jhelum, Chenab Ravi, Sutlej and Beas. The five rivers, now divided between India and Pakistan, merge to form the Panjnad, which joins the Indus. Beas River joins with the Sutlej near the Harike Barrage in Indian Punjab. Punjabis were considered martial race by Britshers and were thought to possess qualities like courage, loyalty, self-sufficiency, physical strength and resilience, orderliness and hard work, and fighting tenacity. The British recruited heavily from Punjabi Muslims for service in the colonial military. On the eve of World War II almost 34,000 Punjabi Muslims were in the army (29 per cent) and during World War-II over 380,000 joined (about 14% of the total). No other class came close to these figures. Almost 70 pre cent of the wartime Muslim recruitment was from what became Pakistan from the undivided Punjab. The three semi-arid districts of Punjab-Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Attock (Campbellpur) pre-dominated in supplying recruit volunteers in World War II.

SAPAHI LINK Introduction History Gallantry Awards Other Distinctions The Regimental Hackle Gallery

HistoryThe Punjab Regiment is the oldest, the largest and the most decorated Regiment of the Pakistan Army. The Regiment emerged in its present shape on 7 May 1956 by amalgamating the 1st, 14th 15th and 16th Punjab Regiment groups, each having six, five, four and five battalions respectively, all rich in traditions of their own. Four of our battalions have already celebrated their bicentenaries while some more are getting ready to do so in the near future.

This historical composition gave the Regiment a solid foundation to build on. During the 49 years of its united existence, it multiplied manifold and fought two National Wars. During 1948, some battalions also fought in Kashmir, and others got the opportunity to see the War in 1965 and 1971. The Punjabi units acquitted themselves with great honour devotion & courage and earned immense laurels.

Gallantry AwardsThe Regiment has the proud privilege of having produced soldiers like Captain Muhammad Sarwar Shaheed, Major Muhammad Tufail Shaheed, Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed and Lance Naik Muhammad Mehfooz Shaheed. These Shaheeds are recipients of the Highest Gallantry Award of the land, the “NISHAN -i- HAIDER”

PUNJAB REGIMENT (PART-1)

PUNJAB REGIMENT (PART-2)