Cadet College Kohat: From Darkness Unto Light

For the last 43 long years, this beacon of light has torched the darkness of ignorance and brought into light many capable and learned people. This seat of learning is the Alma Mater of men who have mostly excelled. Certainly this glorious institution has followed in word and in spirit.
Many souls are blessed by the cherished memories of this stay in Cadet College Kohat. Once a Kohatian is always a Kohatian and with the passage of time they have become one big family never divided. Together, they support each other and help each other excel.

History of Cadet College Kohat (CCK)

Cadet Colleges were first introduced in the Bismarkian Germany and the Nepoleonic France, where the military and Royal aristocracy used to send their childern/wards for education, as well as a carrier in the Royal Army. In Pakistan, Cadet Colleges were introduced by late Field Marshal, Muhammad Ayub Khan and these were initially established at Hasanabdal, Kohat and Petaro.

In pursuance of the recommendations of the Commission on National Education of the defunct Govt. of West Pakistan decided to establish another Cadet College to be the third in the province. The proposal received the approval of the Pakistan Planning Commission and financial provision for the Project was included in the Second, Third and Fourth five-year Development Plans.

Source: Wikipedia

In recognition of the military services of the people of the area, Mr. Fateh Khan Bandial, the then Deputy Commissioner, Kohat, requested late Malik Amir Muhammad Khan , H.Pk, H.Q.A., the then Governor of West Pakistan that a Cadet College should be established at Kohat. Mr Fateh Khan acquired 144 acres of land for the college. The foundation-stone was laid by late Malik Amir M. Khan, on 19th April,1964 and construction work was taken in hand vigorously.

The first entry of cadets was accepted in April, 1965. Academic work started in this College with 58 cadets and one House i.e Jinnah House. Lt. Col. (Retd.) Faizullah Khattak (late) was the founder Principal. The college owes its success and prosperity to his sincere and consistent efforts.

How this institution has served the nation & the country in general and the people of this area in particular and how it has come upto the expectations of the people on the whole can be ascertained from the achievements of the college spread over the past 36 years.

Fifty-eight cadets of the first entry appeared in the Secondry School Certificate Examinations in march 1968. All these cadets passed in first division & since then, outstanding results have become the hallmark of the College.

Although the college does not prepare its students for a purely Military career, its worth mentioning that the cadets of this institution have surpassed other institutions in obtaining commission in the Armed Forces. To give an example, out of 107 cadets who had applied for commission in Defence Forces in the year 1971, 95 were selected by Inter Services Selection Board. This is the highest percentage of success achieved so far by a single educational institution in the country.

Infrastructure of Cadet College Kohat

The college is spread over an area of about 144 acres (0.58 km2). The buildings comprise an Academic Block, six boarding houses (spread around the Academic Block in a semicircular shape), three messes, a mosque, a gymnasium, a new and spacious cafeteria, a swimming pool, a ten bed hospital,several sports fields includind six football grounds,six hockey fields,two cricket pitches,six basketball courts and two squash courts. The college also has residential accommodation for the teaching and administrative staff.

Not only this, the college has high tech computer labs and well maintained Library. For the extra curricular activities, Cadet College Kohat has various clubs i.e Debates Club, Sailing Club, Riding Club, Science Club, Dramatics Club and Arts Club. These clubs are very active and organize national level events. The Cadet College has the distinguish to win All Pakistan Debates competition on several occassions. The college sailing team has participated in All Pakistan Sailing Competition held in Rawal Lake, Rawalpindi and Arabian Seas in Karachi and achieved outstanding results.

Further details about the Infrastructure of Cadet College Kohat can be found on its official website by clicking here.

Achievements of Kohatians

Even though the college is not very old as compared to the other famous colleges in Pakistan, yet it has many achievements to its credit. The following are few of the documented achievements:

MARTYRS (”SHOHADA”)

The EX-Cadets who embraced martydom for the greater glory of their mother-land are as follows:
Late EX-Cadet Kausar Khan (1973-75) expired at PMA Kakul while under training.
Late EX-Cadet Captain Aamir Yasin, (1980-81) House Commander Jinnah House, embraced martyrdom in an air-crash with his boots on .
Late EX-cadet Captian Nasim Khan (kit no. 2037 Jinnah House) who laid his life for the defence of his mother land at Siachin Glacier.
Late Ex-Cadet Captian Zahid ullah khan Afridi (1966-71) later introduced into civil services as assiant Political, agent, kurram agency and Mohammand Agency. He kissed the dust in an explosion during the visit of then prime minister of Pakistan.

SWORDS OF HONOUR AT PMA Kakul

1.Ex-Cadet Khurram Nawaz Khan, Kit No. 9, Jinnah House (PMA Kakul).

2.Ex-Cadet Ahmad Fauzan, Rustam House (Pakistan Navy, 1986).

3.Ex-Cadet Ahmad Farooq, Munawar House (Pakistan Navy, 1991).

4.Ex-Cadet Kashif Jadoon, Khushal House (Pakistan Navy, 1998).

5.Ex-Cadet Abrar Hussain, Khushal House (PAF, 1999).

MAJOR GENERALS

1. Ex-Cadet Maj. General Syed Sabahat Hussain (First Entry - Munawar House)

2.Ex-Cadet Maj.General Haroon Pasha (First Entry - House Comander Khushal House)

RECIPIENTS OF TAMGHA-E-BASALAT

1. Ex-Cadet Major Munawar Hayat Khan Niazi (6th Entry, Munawar House)

2. Ex-Cadet Major Ansar Shah (9th Entry, Jinnah House)

PROVINCIAL MINISTERS - N.W.F.P

1. Ex-Cadet Iftikhar Ahmad Khan Jhagra (1st entry, Khushal House)

2. Ex-Cadet Mohabbat Ali Zafar (9th Entry, Khushal House)

YOUNGEST PROFESSOR FROM PAKISTAN IN CANADA

Ex-Cadet Professor Dr. Ashfaq Shoaib (5th Entry, Khushal House),
Professor Of Medicine and Director of Neurology,
University of Alberta, Canada.

SCHOLARS

Ex-Cadet Dr. M. Zafar Khan (5th Entry, Khushal House)

Ex-Cadet Dr. M. Farooq Ahmad Khan (3rd Entry, Iqbal House)

RENOUNED PLAYER AND ATHELETE

Ex-Cadet Major Tariq Mehmood Sadozai has the following achievements:

1. The best Athelete and the fastest man of the army/services for two consecutive years.

2. 4 times International Gold Medalist.

3. The Fastest Man of Pakistan for one year.

4. Represented Pakistan in Atheletics in Asian Games in

* 1982, India.

*1985, Indonesia.

In 2005 Earthquake in Pakistan, few Kohatians lost their lives while other scrambled to save the lives of thousands of people trapped in the region. Kohatians did remarkable job in the relief activities.

Source: Kohatian.com

Lastly, I am proud to say that two of the founding members of Pro-Pakistan blog site are Kohatians and i am one of them.There are many more members of Kohatian alumni working in different companies across the globe and we would like to add them to the list as soon as we come to know about them. Moreover, if Kohatians are visiting this page, they can share the names with us as well and we will update the blog post.

To access the Kohatians Alumni Website, Click here.

Concluding Words:

I strongly believe that Cadet College Kohat is an institution that has very well served its objectives. The institution is a true beacon of light in the NWFP province and has nurtured the talent in the remote areas of Pakistan. However, recently it has been facing financial problems and unless Government of Pakistan extend financial grants to this institution, it will not be able to survive and hence this ray of hope will be hard struck.

Cadet College Kohat Annual Parents Day Video