Firoz Shah

Commander Firoz Shah (ﻓﻴﺮﻭﺯﺷﺎﻩ)  (7 January 1914 – 6 August 2007), SI (M) was the second principal of Cadet College Petaro, one of the earliest public schools built in Pakistan back in 1957. He joined the Royal Navy in undivided India in 1938 and fought during the Second World War as a part of the British war machine. He was awarded the coveted Sitara-e-Imtiaz award by the Government of Pakistan in 2007 for his meritorious services to Cadet College Petaro

Education and early life
Firoz Shah was born on 7 January 1914 at Pind Dadan Khan near Chakwal, Jhelum District, Punjab. He graduated from the Punjab University, Kitchener's College, Nowgong (in undivided India). Subsequently, he graduated from the Royal Navy College in London. He married Sughra on 24 November 1940. They had three children: two sons (Shafqat and Sajjad) and one daughter. His wife Sughra expired in 1996.

Career in the Navy
Shah joined the Royal Navy in 1938 in undivided India and served under the British command until 1947. He also fought the Second World War under the British flag. When Pakistan was created in August 1947, Firoz Shah 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. Of these 18 years, he served as the Director of Education in Pakistan Navy for 12 years. He was recognized as a key educationist. All of the educational institutions of the Pakistan Navy were under his supervision.

Cadet College Petaro
Upon his retirement from the Navy, the Board of Governors of Cadet College Petaro chose Shah to relieve Col. J.H.H. Coombes as the Principal of the college on 10 June 1965. He then ruled over Petaro for 7 years until his retirement on 14 March 1972.

Along with his predecessor Col. J.H.H. Coombes, Shah is recognized as a pioneer in the development of Cadet College Petaro and its institutions. During his period the college gained a nationwide reputation and most of its infrastructure was completed. The college also rose up to its heights in academics and nationwide sports achievements.

In terms of infrastructure developments, the Provision of Sui gas to Petaro was a very important event as it made life much easier. Other infrastructure improvements included construction of the boundary wall, main gate, tennis courts, squash courts, expansion of riding club, shooting range, grassy hockey field, extension of dining hall, trees along all roads, orchards, agriculture farm, guest house for visiting parents and VIPs, etc.

With better infrastructure, the number of students increased from 350 to 600 and 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 pre-medical classes at the Intermediate level in addition to the pre-engineering section.

Among the greatest achievements was on the sports side. The college won most of its trophies during Shah’s tenure. The "President’s Shield" donated by late President Ayub Khan used to be given to the college winning the ICCST (Inter Cadet Colleges Sports Tournament). Petaro won the shield and the championship for four consecutive years (1968–71), gaining the right to keep the shield permanently.

In terms of career development, the college saw a surge in interest by cadets who wanted to join the armed forces. Selection into Services Academies increased dramatically as a result of special training introduced. A Flying Club was also started with the patronage of PAF who provided a glider and necessary staff.

Shah’s tenure also saw development of Staff and Employees Welfare projects. It led to an increase in staff members, additional House Masters, allowances sanction, courses for higher qualifications in UK, staff club improvements, additional housing, and permission to sons of staff members to join college. Subsidies were given to employee for Sui gas connections, food, transport for colony children attending school in Hyderabad, and a Welfare Fund.

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 going through a great shock. A few months later, 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 for the sake of education in Pakistan.

Later life
Cdr. Firoz Shah moved to his ancestral village of Baghanwala which is a part of Pind Dadan Khan after his retirement, and spent two and a half decades of his life in development projects and uplift of that rural area. He was engaged in farming and social activities, including magisterial duties, local bodies, establishing a girls' primary school at the farm, provision of electricity and a roads infrastructure to the village and the adjacent localities.

He then moved to Islamabad to live with his younger son in the mid-1990s. 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. He is buried near the grave of his wife, Sughra.

The government of Pakistan honoured Cdr. Firoz Shah for his meritorious services and awarded him the coveted Sitara-e-Imtiaz national award. It was given 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.