The 4th Battalion of the Sindh Regiment (4 Sindh previously 44 Punjab) is known as SARMAST. On 25 October 2025, an impressive inauguration ceremony of “SARMAST LOUNGE” was held at AMAANIBAGH, Angoori, Islamabad. AMAANIBAGH is the HOME of the SEHGAL family.
The Sarmast Lounge and two Guest Rooms adjacent to it are located in a breathtaking environment at the Home of the Sehgal Family. Situated in the scenic mountain area gives a true reflection of military culture, visible in military setups only. It is for these reasons that even today, D Coy of 4 Sindh is named as SEHGAL Family.
The Sarmast lounge is dedicated by Ikram Sehgal as a testament of his love and commitment to the unit with whom he served with during the 1971 war. The ribbon cutting of the lounge was performed by the wife of Brig Moeen Ud Din Ahmed, former CO 4 Sindh, who was martyred in a terrorist gun attack in 2009, while in uniform in Islamabad. While recalling the tragic incident in a very sad moment with everyone around, Mrs Moeen was graciously composed while deeply appreciating the act of honouring her husband and his family.
Officers and families of 4 Sindh will be privileged to stay at SARMAST LOUNGE. A dedicated anteroom has a touch of Regimental history, displaying pictures of Commanding Officers with a specially dedicated corner for the photos of the units Shaheeds.
A large-sized painting showing soldiers ready to go into combat is a reflection on 4 Sindh, now a Motorized Infantry Battalion (MIB), with an armoured formation. A large number of serving and retired officers with wives and children were present. Particularly notable was Hayat Khan, the Canteen Contractor since 1971, whose presence sparked many good memories during our conversations. His son, Mohsin Khan, is now working as Operations Manager in Pathfinder Group. The warmth and love exchanged during themoving event truly reflects age-old military traditions and camaraderie rarely nowseen in life. Children were proud to hear stories of wartime action of their parents, wives felt elated to listen about the achievements of their husbands while officers were in an upbeat mood to be honoured for their services. Among those who graced this auspicious occasion were Maj Gen (Retd) Fahim Akhtar Khan and Lt Gen (Retd) Javed Iqbal Ramday. “The efforts of all the team members who developed the facility in line with the vision of Ikram Sehgal are a recognition of the sacrifices of our soldiers and their families,” said Maj Gen (Retd) Fahim Akhtar Khan while speaking to regimental Officers and families on this occasion. To quote Gen Ramday, “This facility is a source of pride for 4 Sindh. It is an environmentally-friendly lounge with guest room in the hills having the most modern facilities in the area”, unquote. With ease of travel and road connectivity, the facility will evolve into an exclusive resort providing a strong bond of lifetime association with the Home of the Sehgal family, which has its own individual mix of grace and modesty of character to present. Ikram Sehgal felt satisfied in placing a stamp on regimental history by leaving a lasting symbol of his bond with his Regiment.
He has consistently stayed in touch with his regiment, often meeting their needs and also employing retired officers and soldiers of the unit. In fact, the present Caretaker of AMAANIBAGH is Hawaldar (Retd) AJMAL of 4 Sindh. Mr. Sehgal has also been involved in supporting children’s education, one notable example being the daughter of Sub Javed Akhtar from 4 Sindh, who at the age of 12, sought assistance from Ikram Sehgal for her studies. Today, she is a dentist holding the rank of Major in the Pakistan Army.
The Sehgal family’s enduring association with the Regiment serves as an example of how steadfast allegiance and shared traditions can strengthen the fabric of the armed forces. Such devotion reinforces the spirit of cohesion and unity that lies at the heart of the Pakistan Army’s strength and resilience. This bond with the Regiment is something to be emulated by all officers in their respective capacities. Such traditions will be meaningful in keeping the integrity and unity of the Pakistan Army.
