The 153rd PMA Long Course passed out at the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul on Saturday, April 18, 2026, in a ceremony that blended military pageantry with a familiar message about discipline, service and regional friendship. The parade also marked the completion of training for the 38th Technical Graduate Course, 72nd Integrated Course, 15th Mujahid Course and 27th Lady Cadet Course.
Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu attended as the chief guest and reviewing officer, underscoring the ceremonial weight of the occasion. The graduating batch was not limited to Pakistani cadets either. According to the official account carried by local media from an ISPR statement, cadets from Iraq, Maldives, Mali, Nepal, Palestine, Qatar and Sri Lanka were also among those who completed training at the academy. That international presence gave the event a broader significance, beyond a routine military graduation.
The top honour of the parade, the Sword of Honour, went to Academy Senior Under Officer Bilal Nasim of the 153rd PMA Long Course. The President’s Gold Medal was awarded to Battalion Senior Under Officer Muhammad Saad Musa, also from the 153rd Long Course. Another notable distinction, the Chief of Defence Forces Overseas Gold Medal, went to Friendly Country Senior Under Officer Pobin Kunwar of Nepal, reflecting PMA Kakul’s long-running role in training cadets from allied countries.
Other awards rounded out the ceremony. The Marksman Medal was awarded to Gentleman Cadet Masood Ur Rehman of the 153rd PMA Long Course. The Chief of Army Staff Cane went to Course Under Officer Haider Bin Abid of the 38th Technical Graduate Course, while Sergeant Pir Muhammad Abdullah Shah received the same distinction for the 15th Mujahid Course. Commandant’s Canes were awarded to Ali Bin Waqar of the 72nd Integrated Course and Walia Zeb of the 27th Lady Cadet Course.
For Pakistan’s military institutions, these ceremonies are never just about drill and decoration. They signal the formal entry of a new crop of officers into service at a time when the armed forces continue to emphasize professionalism, operational readiness and ties with partner countries. At Kakul, that message came through clearly: the parade was about honour, yes, but also continuity — one generation stepping out, another stepping forward.
