PNS Khaibar, PNS Nasr visit Dar Es Salaam and Mombasa

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy (PN) Ships Khaibar and Nasr during their concurrent overseas deployment to East African Countries and Island States of Indian Ocean visited Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania) and Mombasa (Kenya) respectively.

The goodwill-cum-training visits of PN ships were aimed to strengthen friendly ties with East ­African countries thus contributing towards foreign policy objectives of the government. In pursuance of the same, PN ships earlier visited Port Victoria at Seychelles and Port Louis at Mauritius, respectively, a press statement issued here by Director of Public Relations of Pakistan Navy on Friday said.

Upon their arrival, both the ships were accorded warm welcome by host navies in their respective ports.

Tanzanian Navy extended cordial gesture by sending Tanzanian Navy Ship Tembo (P-71) to welcome PNS Khaibar in Tanzanian waters. Whereas upon arrival at berth, PNS Khaibar was received by a number of officers and sailors of Tanzanian Navy along with Naval and Air Advisor of Pakistan and other officials of Pakistan High Commission Dar Es Salaam.

PNS Nasr was received by Kenyan Navy contingent with traditional naval hospitality. Defence Adviser of Pakistan along with Pakistan High Commission Nairobi staff was also present on the occasion.

During the stay at Mombasa port, PN Mission Commander Commodore Javaid Iqbal along with Commanding Officer PNS Nasr called on Brigadier V L Naisho, Commander of Kenya Navy Base Mtongwe, Hassan Ali Joho, Governor of Mombasa and Evan Achoki County Commissioner of Mombasa.

Commanding Officer PNS Khaibar held meetings with various high ranking Tanzanian officials which included General Kivuyo Chief of Tanzania People Defence Forces (TPDF), Rear Admiral Richard Mutayoba Commander Tanzanian Navy and Brig General H S Kamunde Acting Chief of Operations and Training TPDF.

During the meetings, dignitaries from both the countries were appreciative of Pakistan Navy's role in maintaining peace and stability in their region through regular deployments with Coalition Forces to curb the menace of piracy and terrorism on high seas.

Crews from both the ships also undertook charity work in their respective ports. Officers and ship’s company of PNS Khaibar visited Kigamboni Community Orphanage and Kigamboni Health Centre and distributed food hampers and medicines. Men from PNS Nasr visited Noor Orphanage and Little Sisters of the Poor (Old Homes) and distributed gift hampers containing food items, school bags and stationery. Medicine boxes arranged from Karachi prior departure were also handed over to local city government reps as donations for the people.

Both the ships conducted reception dinners onboard during their port stay. The events were well attended by large number of diplomatic and defence fraternities of the cities along with prominent Pakistani expatriates.

Both the ships finally departed their respective ports after successful visits for return voyage to Karachi.

These port visits by PN ships will further enhance PN's bilateral relations with important East African countries.