Commissioning of Khaibar in Istanbul: President, PM extend felicitations

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have extended felicitations to the Pakistan Navy, defence experts, and all stakeholders on the commissioning of Pakistan’s second MILGEM-class naval vessel, PNS KHAIBAR in Türkiye.

In their separate statements Sunday, they said defence cooperation between Pakistan and Türkiye is a manifestation of mutual trust and long-standing brotherly relations.

In his message President Asif Ali Zardari has termed the commissioning of a Pakistan Navy MILGEM class ship ‘PNS KHAIBAR’ in Turkiye as an important milestone for the national maritime defense.

President Zardari said the commissioning of the modern naval vessel would further strengthen the defence of country’s maritime frontiers and security. “The defense cooperation between Pakistan and Turkiye reflects the mutual trust and long-standing brotherly relations,” he added.

The president also reaffirmed his commitment to further expanding bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the defence industry. He opined that enhancing naval power was essential for the protection of Pakistan’s economy, trade and sea routes.

The MILGEM-class ship project was a successful precedent of the technical expertise and shared vision of both countries, he further added. The ISPR in a separate press release said that PN MILGEM ships were the most technologically advanced surface platforms. These vessels are equipped with latest Command and Control Systems integrated with modern weapons and advanced sensors, it said.

In a separate message, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said the PNS KHAIBAR’s commissioning would further strengthen the protection of Pakistan’s maritime frontiers.

The prime minister further said that the defence cooperation between Pakistan and Turkiye showed mutual trust and long-standing brotherly relations between the two countries.

“Enhancement of naval strength and capabilities is indispensable for country’s economy, trade and the security of sea routes,” PM Office Media Wing, in a press release quoted the prime minister as saying.