PM Shehbaz & Turkish President Erdogan launch PNS Khaiber, the third of the four MILGEM corvettes for Pak Navy at Istanbul Shipyard
PM Shehbaz says being in Turkey feels like being home, overwhelmed by the warmth of our Turkish brothers & sisters
ISTANBUL ( Web News )
Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched PNS Khaiber, the third of the four MILGEM corvettes for Pakistan Navy at Istanbul Shipyard on Friday.
Addressing the ceremony, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said it is another great day in our historical relations and brotherhood to witness the launching of PNS Khaiber.
Recalling the old fraternal ties between the two brotherly countries, he thanked Turkiye for standing by Pakistan and supporting our cause at every international forum.
The Prime Minister made it clear that our cooperation is not aimed at promoting wars and aggression but peace and defence.
Shehbaz Sharif commended the efforts of Turkish President for shipment of wheat parcels from Ukraine otherwise the Ukraine war could have created great problems for developing nations like Pakistan.
He specially thanked the Turkish President for the assistance provided during the most devastating flood that hit Pakistan recently.
In his address, Turkish President Erdogan said Turkiye had achieved great things in the field of defence cooperation.
He told the gathering that four corvettes were being produced under MILGEM project – two locally and two in Pakistan. The final ship will be delivered in February 2025, he added.
The Turkish president said his government would carry Turkiye to first place in the world’s defence industry super league as the country was expanding its domestic naval and air military projects. In 2023, Turkiye’s new homegrown drone and fighter jet will be launched, he added.
Minister for Defence Production Muhammad Israr Tareen said this project is an evidence of our brotherhood and strong defence collaboration. He expressed confidence that this cooperation will further intensify in future.
He appreciated the Turkish Navy and Istanbul Shipyard for ensuring the project’s completion within the timeframe. He told the audience that Pakistan was blessed with immense resources and ongoing China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was set to enhance regional connectivity and maximize trade with Gwadar Port being a focal point.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi, who also attended the launching ceremony, congratulated the leadership of both the countries on this occasion and also thanked the President of Turkiye for defence cooperation with Pakistan.
Amjad Khan Niazi said the presence of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signified the importance of the close relations between the two countries.
He said Pakistan and Turkiye enjoyed long-lasting and deep-rooted ties resting firmly on trust and support based on the principles.
He said the induction of the MILGEM ship would strengthen the Pakistan Navy and acknowledged the commitment by the Turkish ministry of defense and the Turkish Navy for completing the project timely.
The MILGEM project based on joint cooperation between the two countries is an important milestone in the Pakistan-Turkiye strategic partnership.
Under this project, the first corvette for the Pakistan Navy, PNS Babar, was launched in Istanbul in August last year, while the foundation stone for the second ship, PNS Badr, was laid in Karachi in May this year.
Meanwhile in a statement issued on twitter on Friday, PM Shehbaz Sharif said that being in Turkey feels like being home, overwhelmed by the warmth of our Turkish brothers and sisters. Our bilateral ties have entered a new era of strategic partnership under the leadership of President Erdogan. We are on course to unpack the full untapped potential of relationship, he said.
Shehbaz Sharif said that leaving for 2-day visit to Türkiye at the invitation of my brother President Tayyip Erdogan. Inauguration of third MILGEM Corvette Ship represents deepening of defence cooperation between our two brotherly countries. High level exchanges are a defining feaure of our partnership.