Naval Chief Admiral Asif Sandila said on Thursday that the book 'Odyssey of a Sailor' is an invaluable narration of the author Rear Admiral Syed Zahid Hasnain's experiences and gives an insight into the trials and tribulations of Pakistan navy during the formative years of the country.
This he said while speaking as a chief guest at the launching ceremony of the book written by Rear Admiral Syed Zahid Hasnain, held here at the crescent hall of PNS Karsaz. Admiral Sandila said that the book was a living account of a visionary naval officer who had an extraordinary career spanning over forty one years and Pakistan Navy was grateful to those pioneers who laid the foundation of such a fine service.
Appreciating the eloquently narrated events, he said that it was a must read for sea going personnel. Rear Admiral Zahir Shah made a slide presentation of the images in the book and said that the work was valuable contribution to the naval literature.
He talked about the role of Admiral Hasnain after the division of naval assets following the partition of India and his visionary acquisition of land for the Pakistan Navy which "is now the greater Karsaz area and the set up of PNS Karsaz, the premier technical establishment of the Navy".
The author, Rear Admiral Syed Zahid Hasnain said that the motto of Karsaz, "the impossible we do now, miracles take a little longer" stayed with him during his whole professional life at Karsaz, at Karachi Shipyard and also at the port trust. He said that during the long period of his job, he had not been involved in any great naval battles or expeditions, but served as an ordinary naval officer both at sea and ashore doing his duty to the best of his abilities.
"On 14th August 1947, the flag of the new country Pakistan was hoisted on our ships that were docked in Bombay. I was posted there to oversee repairs and refits before sending our share of the ships off to Karachi." "With the division of assets, a few ships mostly old came to Pakistan's share and the balance went to India. Pakistan Navy had just three engineer officers including myself. In our new country, there were shortages of everything. There was little money, no tables and chairs, no office space, no motor boats, no transport, no depots and no spares of course. We had to start every thing from scratch. There was even no broadcasting station and the first transmission of the Quaid-e-Azam was broadcast by Pakistan Radio from HMPS Godavri," Hasnain Said.
He said that this motto then in fact applies equally to the Pakistan Navy itself which had grown from a small navy without any supporting facilities whatsoever to a magnificent fighting force that it was today. He thanked the Chief of Naval Staff and Commandant Karsaz for the support of the Navy in the launch of his book. In the end of the ceremony, Tayabba Habib of SAMA Editorial and Publishing Services thanked the participants of the ceremony.