KARACHI: Making it clear that Pakistan will not compromise on its strategic interests, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday said that the government is working for a strong, democratic and economically viable Pakistan.
Speaking at the launch of Pakistan’s largest indigenous naval warship fleet tanker at the Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KS&EW), the premier said that Pakistan had immense power potential and resources for economic development, and “this must be harnessed effectively for the country’s development”.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed pleasure over the launch of the largest warship prepared in the country by Karachi Shipyard – a 17,000-tonne fleet tanker built with the cooperation of Turkey – and hoped this initiative would open more opportunities for further cooperation between Pakistan and Turkey in the field of indigenous warship construction and other defence sector products.
He said the successful construction of the fleet tanker would play a vital role towards achieving self-reliance in defence production, and the government would continue to support the policy of indigenisation in all technological spheres.
The premier said that the launching of this warship two months ahead of the schedule was a gift to the nation on its 70th Independence Day.
He said the fleet tanker being built in the collaboration with Turkish shipbuilding firm M/S. Savunma Teknologiler Muhendisilik (STM) under the ambit of the Ministry of Defence Production and Pakistan Navy was a true testament of “our efforts towards indigenisation and enhanced collaboration with our brotherly country Turkey”.
He hoped that this cooperation would continue in the future and more ships would be built at the Karachi Shipyard in collaboration with Turkish firms.
Nawaz congratulated the Ministry of Defence Production, Pakistan Navy, the STM Turkey and the Karachi Shipyard for launching the ship ahead of schedule. He said that the Pakistan Navy’s fleet tanker would always be remembered as an icon of Pakistan-Turkey friendship.
He said that Pakistan and Turkey were time-tested friends, adding that though the two countries were geographically apart, they were united by faith, common heritage, shared civilisation and commonality of interest.
He said that joint ventures like the construction of the fleet tanker would further strengthen the two countries’ relations.
Nawaz said that the Karachi Shipyard was an exceptional story of success in the public sector, which should be emulated by other similar organisations. He said he was confident that through continued hard work, better management practices and government patronage, the Karachi Shipyard would achieve many more laurels in the future. The premier appreciated the workforce and management of the Karachi Shipyard for transforming the company into a profitable and viable organisation. He announced a bonus of Rs 100 million for the employees of the Karachi Shipyard.
Nawaz said that the ongoing development programmes of the government, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), stipulate the aim to achieve maximum output in terms of regional trade and transshipment, with Gwadar as the focal point.
He said that Pakistan was blessed with a long coastline and was strategically located at the mouth of the Gulf. He said there were extensive trade and maritime activities being undertaken at two major seaports of Karachi. He said that the government was committed to consolidating maritime infrastructure along the coast from Karachi to Gwadar.
Later, the prime minister cut the fastening strings and the fleet tanker was moved into the sea with the help of a tugboat at the platform of the Karachi Shipyard.
The ship is capable of independently operating at sea for up to three months. The double hull tanker is compliant with latest International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and marine pollution (MARPOL) regulations.
It will provide logistics support to Pakistan Navy units at sea through transfer of liquid and dry cargo and is also capable of undertaking combat support operation through embarked helicopters. The ship is also equipped with modern medical facilities to support Pakistan Navy fleet units, both during war and disaster relief operations.
