Gen Raheel Sharif has kicked off his farewell visits nearly a week before he is expected to retire as Chief of Army Staff, DG Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Asim Bajwa announced.

The army chief began his visits on Monday at the Lahore Garrison where he addressed and thanked a huge gathering of soldiers of Pakistan Army and Rangers.

Addressing the soldiers, Gen Raheel said accomplishment of peace and stability was “no ordinary task”.

“Our sacrifices and joint national resolve helped us in off-setting all odds against [the] country.”

Gen Sharif is expected to pass on the baton of command of the army to the next army chief at a ceremony by the end of this month.