ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Navy has commissioned the first MILGEM Ship PNS BABUR at the commissioning ceremony held at Istanbul Naval Shipyard, Turkiye.
The event was graced by the Minister of National Defence Turkiye Yasar Güler and Defence Minister of Pakistan Lieutenant General (R) Anwar Ali Hyder as chief guests flanked by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi, a Pakistan Navy news release said on Sunday.
Addressing on the occasion, Turkish Defence Minister termed the brotherly Pakistan-Turkiye relations as exemplary and acknowledged the poten-tial for further collaboration in the field of defence production.
He lauded the efforts and remarkable work done by Istanbul Naval Shipyard and ASFAT (Turkish Firm).
He also thanked the Government of Pakistan and Pakistan Navy for exceptional support during the recent devastating earthquakes at Turkiye. During his address, the Defence Minister of Pakistan admired the collaboration of the Ministry of Defence Production Pakistan, Ministry of National Defence of Turkiye, ASFAT and Pakistan Navy for the synergized efforts to make the project a success and congratulated all teams on the successful commissioning of 1st MILGEM Ship. He added that the relationship between Pakistan and Turkiye is unique because of deep rooted historical ties between the two brotherly countries, hence coopera-tion shall continue in future as well. Speaking on the occasion, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Mu-hammad Amjad Khan Niazi underlined that PN MILGEM Ships fitted with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors will play a key role in maintaining peace and stability in the region. He expressed his grati-tude for enhanced collaboration in defence production especially in Maritime domain between the two countries. The Admiral stated that in line with the government policies, Pakistan Navy has adopt-ed indigenization of platforms and hence it is very satisfying to see modern warships being built in col-laboration with brotherly country Turkiye. PN MILGEM Class ships are the most technologically ad-vanced and state-of-the-art surface platforms being constructed for Pakistan Navy. The ships will be fitted with latest Command and Control Systems including modern weapons and sensors. The Contract for construction of four MILGEM Class ships for Pakistan was signed between Ministry of Defence Production, Pakistan and ASFAT in 2018. Under the project, two ships are under construction at Istan-bul Naval Shipyard, while the other two are being constructed at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works. The ceremony was attended by high leveled civil and military dignitaries from Turkiye and Paki-stan and officials of Istanbul Naval Shipyard. –Agencies
