Shooting ranges in Jhelum, Karachi get electronic system

KARACHI: Pakistan has made 45 rifle/pistol targets electronic at the shooting ranges of Jhelum and Karsaz in Karachi in order to train shooters on modern lines.

It has been learnt that recently Army installed an electronic scoring system on 10 targets of its 10-metre rifle/pistol range in Jhelum.

At Navy Shooting Range at Karsaz the installation of electronic scoring system on 35 targets of 10m, 25m, and 50m rifle and pistol ranges has also been completed.

“We have installed this latest equipment on 35 targets out of 95,” said Karamat-ur-Rahim, who heads the PN Shooting Range, while talking to ‘The News’. “This is to bring our athletes at par with international standards,” he said.

The installation of electronic scoring system at the range has made it the best shooting range of the country where athletes can practise under the same international standards they see in foreign countries, said Karamat, who is treasurer of National Rifle Association of Pakistan’s (NRAP) Youth Academy being run at the range.

“We have started seeing improvement in the results of our athletes who practise on these electronic targets. It would be, however, too early to predict any big change in the results of our athletes,” added Karamat.

He said they would surely reap the benefits of this installation in the coming one or two years. “Our shooter G M Bashir has really impressed us. We are expecting him to win a quota place for Pakistan for Rio Olympics,” he added. Karamat said they had been looking for this installation for quite some time and with the help of Pakistan Navy they finally got it at a low cost. “This system is very expensive but Navy helped us get this system at a very low cost,” added Karamat.

He said shooters from across the country could test their potential on this electronic system in the Chief of Naval Staff Shooting Championship that is to be held at the range from December 23.

“This national-level competition will be the first to have full use of this electronic system,” said Karamat.