The commissioning ceremony of a new Naval Base, PNS Hameed, was held near Karachi in coastal Sindh on Tuesday. The Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Rashad Mahmood was the Chief Guest of the occasion. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah was also present in the ceremony.
The commissioning of PNS Hameed is a landmark achievement for the Pakistan Navy. Besides providing maritime broadcast services for units of the navy operating at sea, the base is fully equipped with a Very Low Frequency (VLF) transmission facility, which is the first of its kind in the country. The secure military communication link in the VLF spectrum will enhance the flexibility and reach of submarine operations.
The submarines when on the surface are able to transmit and receive broadcast messages. However, once submerged, they can only receive wireless messages on VLFs. The unit has been named after Lt Cdr Pervaiz Hameed Shaheed, an ex-Executive Officer of PNS Ghazi, the navy’s first attack submarine.
Speaking on the occasion, the CJCSC General Rashad Mahmood lauded the concerted efforts of those involved and said that with the commissioning of PNS Hameed, significant operational capability has been added to the Pakistan Navy, which would further augment the seaward defence of the country. He further added that the commissioning is yet another milestone in the Pakistan Navy’s commitment towards ensuring the defence of Pakistan’s maritime frontiers.
The Chief of the Naval Staff while appreciating the efforts of all those who have been associated with the project, said that the commissioning of PNS Hameed is a significant breakthrough towards enhancing the Pakistan Navy’s operational capability.
The ceremony was attended by a large number of Naval and Military officers and local civil dignitaries.