KARACHI - Two pusher tugs, built at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works, were formally handed over to Pakistan Navy on Tuesday in a ceremony held at Karachi Shipyard.
Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Muhammad Shafiq was the chief guest on the occasion.
Addition of these Pusher Tugs in Pakistan Navy Fleet is an important milestone achieved towards self reliance. Pakistan Navy has also signed a contract with KSEW for construction of a 15000-ton capacity fleet tanker.
Addressing the ceremony, the chief guest said that while Pakistan’s geographical location and geostrategic environment essentially necessitates, building of a strong and balanced Navy to defend our maritime interests; realisation of our force goals through foreign acquisitions only is becoming increasingly difficult. The changing geo political dynamics also suggests that the access to the foreign defence technologies, particularly in the high end domains would be either denied or hard to come by in the coming year. Accordingly, self reliance has been at the fore front of policies, and it is in this context, Pakistan Navy has been supporting and interacting closely with the Local Defence Industries, particularly Karachi Shipyard to make a steady progress towards indigenisation.
Appreciating the efforts of Karachi Shipyard, the Admiral said that Karachi Shipyard has delivered up to our expectations and has been a major support to PN Fleet for new constructions, as well as, for repair of ships. Karachi Shipyard also deserves acclaim for its revival and unprecedented progress during testing times when the global shipping industry as a whole is on the declines.
It is well poised to manifest its potential of undertaking major shipbuilding and engineering projects for the country and also for the foreign clients, to earn and save valuable foreign exchange. Recent award of contract for construction of 15000-ton capacity fleet tanker by PN is manifestation of the same. He assured of all out support of Pakistan Navy to KSEW for its revitalisation so that all future growth plans are timely materialized.
Earlier in his welcome address, Rear Admiral Hasan Nasir Shah, Managing Director Karachi Shipyard gave a brief account of the progress of Karachi Shipyard and underlined the projects being undertaken for Pakistan Navy. He mentioned that presently KSEW is undertaking construction of 5 Pakistan Navy vessels. He apprised that the 4th F-22 P Frigate PNS ASLAT has successfully completed all harbor and sea trials and will be handed over to PN in April this year. In addition, a Fast Attack Missile Craft and a 32-ton Tug are also under construction which will be handed over to PN as per the contractual schedule.
The ceremony was attended by a large number of PN officers, engineers and technicians of Karachi Shipyard.