Firoz Shah
| Firoz Shah | |
|---|---|
 Commander Firoz Shah, PN. | |
| Birth name | Firoz Shah |
| Nickname(s) | Commander Shah |
| Born |
7 January 1914 Pind Dadan Khan, Punjab |
| Died |
6 July 2007 (aged 93) Karachi, Sindh |
| Buried at | Military Graveyard, Karachi |
| Allegiance |
 Pakistan |
| Service/branch |
 Pakistan Navy |
| Years of service | 1938–1972 |
| Rank |
 Commander |
| Service number | PN No. 101 |
| Unit | Executive Naval Branch |
| Commands held |
Cadet College Petaro Director Naval Education (DNED) |
| Battles/wars |
World War II Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Operation Dwarka |
| Awards | Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military) |
| Relations | 1987-6-26-NASSIF-H.ZAMAN-MAMA× |
| Other work | Educator |
Commander Firoz Shah (Urdu: ﻓﻴﺮﻭﺯﺷﺎﻩ) (7 January 1914 – 6 August 2007), SI (M) Cdr. (ret.) was a Royal Navy officer in India under the British Raj, serving from 1938 to 1972. He was born at Pind Dadan Khan near Chakwal, Jhelum district, Punjab. He joined the Royal Navy in India and served under the British command until 1947. He became a de facto member of the Pakistan Navy and moved to Karachi. After 18 years of meritorious service under the Pakistani flag, he retired from the Pakistan Navy in 1965 as a Commander. He also served as principal of Cadet College Petaro from 1965 to 1972.[1] He fought in World War II, and was awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz award by the government of Pakistan in 2007 for his service to Cadet College Petaro.
Career at Cadet College
Upon his retirement from the Navy, the Board of Governors of the Cadet College Petaro chose Shah to replace Col. J.H.H. Coombes as the Principal of the college on 10 June 1965. Petaro was one of the earliest colleges in Pakistan, constructed in 1957. He presided over Petaro for seven years until his retirement on 14 March 1972.
Along with his predecessor Col. J.H.H. Coombes, Shah was recognized as a pioneer in the development of Cadet College Petaro and its institutions. During his time as Principal, the College gained a nationwide reputation, reaching new heights of academic and sporting achievements. It was also during this time that most of Petaros infrastructure was completed.
Notable among infrastructure improvements, the provision of Sui gas to Petard was a critical event, significantly improving life for students and staff. Other improvements included: construction of the boundary wall, the main gate, the tennis and squash courts, the expansion of the riding club, the shooting range, and the hockey field. The dining hall extension, planting of trees along roads, and the addition of orchards, a farm and a guest house for visiting parents and VIPs was also undertaken during Shah's tenure.
With the provision of better facilities, the number of students increased from 350 to 600 and a seventh class was introduced on an experimental basis for Sindhis. Two new houses (Iqbal and Qasim) were built. The Board of Governors permitted introduction of premedical classes at the intermediate level in addition to the pre-Engineering section.
The college excelled in sports and won most of its trophies during Shah's tenure. The "President's Shield," donated by the late president Ayub Khan (President of Pakistan) and was given to the college winning the Inter-Cadet Colleges Sports Tournament (ICCST). Petaro won the shield and the championship for four consecutive years (1968–71), gaining the right to keep the shield permanently.
Under Shah's tenure, Petaro saw a surge in interest by cadets who wanted to join the armed forces. Selection into Service Academies increased dramatically as a result of specialized training. A flying club was also started with the patronage of Pakistan Air Force, which provided a glider and necessary staff.
Firoz Shah left Cadet College Petaro while the country was going through a difficult time: Pakistan had just gone through a war with India and was dismembered. With the invasion of East Pakistan by India and the formation of Bangladesh, the country was undergoing a great shock. A few months after the formation of Bangladesh, Shah was forced into retirement from the college on 14 March 1972.
Firoz Shah's services to the college have been recorded and remembered at every major function held at Cadet College Petaro. Along with Col. J.H.H. Coombes, he is considered to be a legend and a great hero in the promotion of Pakistani education.
Later life
After his retirement, Shah moved to his ancestral village of Baghanwala, part of Pind Dadan Khan, and spent two and a half decades in development projects and in uplifting the surrounding rural area. He was engaged in farming, social activities (including magisterial duties), local bodies, establishing a primary school for girls, and improving electric and road infrastructure in the adjacent localities.
In the mid-1990's, he moved to Islamabad to live with his younger son. In 2002, Shah moved to Karachi and spent his last few years there until his death on 6 August 2007. His body was transported home to Baghanwala, and he was buried near the grave of his wife, Sughra.
The government of Pakistan honored Cdr. Firoz Shah for his meritorious services and awarded him the coveted Sitara-e-Imtiaz national award. It was presented to his sons a few weeks after Shah's death in 2007.
Publications
- "Cdr.(R) Firoz Shah – The Second Principal of Cadet College Petaro: 1965–1972", published in Petaro and Petarians Over Fifty Years by Kazi Zulkader Siddiqui, Islamabad, 2007.
See also
References
External links
| Academic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Col. J.H.H. Coombes, (20 March 1958 – 9 June 1965) |
Principal, Cadet College Petaro 10 June 1965 – 14 Mar 1972 |
Succeeded by Syed Shaida Azim (15 March 1972 – 27 May 1975) |
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