LAHORE: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen Raheel Sharif visited the Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) headquarters on Friday and praised the high state of morale, operational preparedness and vigil being maintained by troops along the Working Boundary and the border.

The visit was aimed at giving a message across the border about the operational preparedness of the military and to buck up Rangers who defend the country`s frontiers. It was also meant to reiterate that the army was behind the paramilitary force.

The COAS was given a detailed briefing by Rangers Director General Maj Gen Umar Farooq Burki about the operational preparedness of the force.

According to an ISPR press release, the army chief also talked to the officers and soldiers of the Punjab Rangers.

He laid a wreath at the Shuhada Memorial to pay homage to the personnel of the force who had laid down their lives for the defence of the country.

The army chief was welcomed at the Rangers headquarters by Lahore Corps Commander Lt Gen Sadiq Ali.