Pakistan Navy committed to protecting Gwadar port, CPEC: Abbasi

–PM Abbasi witnesses navy’s operational exercises from Nasr ship

KARACHI: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Sunday said that the Pakistan Navy was resolved to safeguard the Gwadar Port and China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), besides the maritime boundaries of Pakistan.

He said this while witnessing the Pakistan Navy’s operational exercises from PNS Nasr. On his arrival at the ship, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi received the prime minister.

The prime minister expressed full satisfaction over the operational capabilities of the Pakistan Navy and said the professional competence of the officers and soldiers were laudable.

During the exercises, the navy’s combat unit demonstrated the operational capabilities and fleet review in the northern Arabian Sea. The exercises comprised the demonstration of ship-to-ship movement of workforce and equipment, firing of rocket depth charge and search and seizure exercises.

He expressed his satisfaction over the operational preparedness of naval defence facilities and also appreciated the social development initiatives undertaken by Pakistan Navy along the Makran coastal belt, especially in health and education sector which shall go a long way in the socio-economic alleviation of local populace in Balochistan.

ABBASI BECOMES COUNTRY’S FIRST PM TO BOARD SUBMARINE:

PM Abbasi boarded and sailed through PN Saad (submarine) and became the country’s first prime minister to board a submarine in the open sea. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi also accompanied the prime minister.

Moreover, PM Abbasi conducted submarine diving and surfacing procedures after which he was presented with the traditional Dolphin insignia, bestowed to submariners.  He also visited Jinnah Naval base Ormara and reviewed defence installations.

During the activity-packed visit at sea, PM Abbasi interacted with officers and men and praised their morale and dedication for defending the maritime frontiers under the challenging environment.

‘PAKISTAN’S DESIRE FOR PEACE MUST NOT BE TAKEN AS WEAKNESS’:

Earlier on Saturday, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, while addressing 108th Midshipmen and 17th Short Service Commission Course passing out parade at Pakistan Naval Academy, had said that Pakistan believes in peaceful co-existence “but our desire for peace must not be construed as weakness”.

“The people of this region deserve a better quality of life, progress and prosperity. This dream can only come true if a policy of cooperation and coherence is followed,” Abbasi had said.

The PM had said that in the current security scenario, certain extremist elements that are abated externally are at play to disrupt the country’s peace and harmony.

“Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad are not merely operations but the manifestations of a resolve and the commitment of the nation to cleanse Pakistan of the scourge of terrorism,” the PM stated.

Lauding the role of Pakistan’s armed forces, he had said that the armed forces are at the forefront playing an important role in harmony with other state institutions.

He had said that the Pakistan Navy is rapidly developing its indigenous capabilities and pursuing it with greater vigour.

The PM had assured that Pakistan is in safe hands, adding that Pakistan shall tackle adversities with unity and keeping the national interest supreme.