PM Shehbaz emphasizes need to enhance bilateral strategic cooperation b/w Pak & Turkiye for the prosperity of the two nations
KARACHI, August 02 (SABAH): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, along-side Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz, jointly launched PNS Tariq Corvette, at a ceremony held on Wednesday in Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works, Karachi.
Addressing the ceremony, PM Shehbaz Sharif appreciated the close defence collaboration between the brotherly countries. He referred to the ‘MILGEM’ project based on joint collaboration between the two countries, as a significant milestone in the Pakistan-Türkiye strategic partnership. He underscored the importance of enhancing bilateral defence cooperation in new and emerging technologies and joint defence production.
PM Shehbaz Sharif emphasized need to enhance bilateral strategic cooperation between Pakistan and Turkiye for the prosperity of the two nations.
The prime minister, lauding the leadership role of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the joint venture project is an example of cooperation and support between two brotherly countries.
Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan and Turkiye stand together in the face of challenges and have helped each other in difficult times throughout.
He specially mentioned the visit of Turkish President during the floods and the help of Turkish people for flood affected people.
Shehbaz Sharif also lauded the resolve of Pakistan Naval Chief for his dedication to ensure high level maritime activities. He urged need to build a link between Karachi and Gwadar as well to enhance the port activity. Prime Minister said CPEC is a roaring success and we have just signed the second phase of CPEC which is going in multiple directions.
He also thanked the workers of Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works for their hard work and dedication in building these ships on time that will be an asset in the fleet of Pakistan Navy.
He also announced two hundred million rupees for the workers of Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works.
Earlier, speaking on the occasion, Naval Chief Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi said PNS Tariq is the fourth and last Milgem class corvette ship built for the Pakistan and second to be built in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, a Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between Pakistan and Turkiye to further enhance the defense cooperation.
Echoing the warm bilateral sentiments, Vice President Yilmaz shared the desire to further deepen the special bilateral relationship, solidifying it through strategic and economic cooperation.
After the ceremony, Vice President Yilmaz called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The two leaders held discussion on wide-ranging issues encompassing bilateral relations, the regional situation and other areas of mutual interest. Appreciating the strong bilateral cooperation, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stressed the importance of transforming the brotherly relations into mutually rewarding trade and economic ties. He underscored the importance of enhancing people-to-people contacts and joint collaborations in R&D, IT, energy, infrastructure, food security, tourism and mining sectors. Both the leaders agreed to continue close coordination and engagement through well-established bilateral mechanisms to continue with the upwards trajectory of bilateral relations.
The launching ceremony for the first MILGEM Corvette PNS Babur was performed in Istanbul in August 2021, second MILGEM Corvette PNS Badr in Karachi in May 2022, and third MILGEM Corvette PNS Khaiber in November 2022 in Istanbul. PNS Tariq is the fourth MILGEM Corvette.
Pakistan and Türkiye enjoy fraternal ties deeply embedded in commonalities of faith, culture and history and defined by exceptional cordiality and mutual trust.