KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari has called for making the Pakistan Navy stronger to safeguard Pakistan’s geo-economic interests as well as defend the maritime frontiers of the country.
According to a press release issued by the President House on Friday, welcoming the induction of MILGEM Class Corvette Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) Babur and Offshore Patrol Vessel PNS Hunain into the Pakistan Navy (PN) fleet, the President said that the ships would enable the Navy to meet its ever-growing operational responsibilities.
He was addressing the induction ceremony of PNS Babur and Hunain into the Pakistan Navy fleet, on Friday, at the PN Dockyard, Karachi. Deputy Minister of National Defence Turkiye, Bilal Burdali, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, senior representatives of construction yards, high-ranking officials of the Armed Forces and the political leadership attended the ceremony.
PNS Babur is a multipurpose ship built at Istanbul Naval Shipyard on 23 September 2023. While PNS Hunain, an Offshore Patrol Vessel, was built and commissioned at DAMEN Shipyard, Romania on 25 July 2024.
The President, addressing the ceremony, highlighted that the induction of PNS Babur and Hunain into the navy fleet was a milestone in fortifying Pakistan’s maritime defence capabilities. He added that these ships would boost the operational readiness of the Navy to counter both conventional and asymmetric threats.
The President highlighted the pivotal role played by the Pakistan Navy in ensuring maritime security, contributing to regional stability, and supporting the country’s economic growth by protecting sea lanes of communication. He said that the Pakistan Navy was ensuring the continuous flow of maritime commerce and defending maritime boundaries of the country, in view of the great potential of the blue economy for the country’s economic growth.
President Zardari reiterated Pakistan’s resolve to defend its sovereignty, uphold peace, prosperity, and stability, and defend the motherland at all costs. He added that Defence and Martyrs’ Day reminded us of the courage, unity, and determination of our Armed Forces and citizens who defended our nation against external aggression. He paid glowing tribute to the martyrs who laid down their lives in defence of the motherland.
Acknowledging the collaborative efforts involved in the construction of the newly inducted ships, he expressed his gratitude to the teams from Pakistan, Türkiye, and the Dutch DAMEN Shipyard for their dedication and hard work. “These ships symbolize our strong friendship with Türkiye and our trust in the Dutch DAMEN Shipyard in Romania,” he remarked. He added that the development would further enhance the Navy’s ability to defend the country’s maritime boundaries.
The President also congratulated the Commanding Officers and crew of PNS Babur and PNS Hunain, wishing them success in their future endeavours.
The Chief of the Naval Staff in his welcome address termed the induction of the two ships in the PN Fleet as a major milestone in the capacity building of the PN Fleet. He acknowledged the government’s full support for providing best possible resources for this purpose. He also acknowledged the professional competence of M/s ASFAT, Istanbul Shipyard, DAMEN Shipyard Galati Romania, and the entire project team for delivering ships to Pakistan Navy showcasing the deep-rooted friendship and cooperation between friendly countries.
