KARACHI: Pakistan Navy Fleet Annual Efficiency Competition Parade for the year 2017 was held at PN Dockyard on Friday.
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi graced the occasion as the chief guest.
The parade is conducted annually by the Fleet Command of the Pakistan Navy to mark the culmination of its operational year in which efficiency shields are awarded to selected fleet units, based on their overall performance throughout the year.
Addressing the officers and men, the naval commended the Pakistan Navy Fleet on successful accomplishment of operational objectives while highlighting that the navy is entrusted with the sacred duty of safeguarding the national maritime interests under the challenging internal and external security environment. The admiral further said that the navy was fully cognisant of the challenges in the wake of the CPEC and operationalisation of Gwadar Port.
He stated that during 2017, besides operational activities, Pakistan Navy Fleet units had actively participated in several major bilateral exercises, including Exercise NUSRAT-VII, FREE OSPREY, SEA THUNDER, SEA TRENCH, SEA LION and TADBEER-E-BEHR. Besides, conduct of multinational exercise AMAN-17 in Pakistani waters, regular participation of Pakistan Navy Fleet units in Coalition Maritime Campaign Plan and Combined Task Forces-150 & 151 and recently conducted flood relief operation in Sri Lanka has not only augmented Pakistan’s maritime relations at regional level, but also demonstrated its potential and importance with regards to regional peace and stability.
Later, the naval chief gave away the prizes to the PN units adjudged best in their respective squadrons.
Earlier, Pakistan Fleet commander highlighted the operational achievements of PN Fleet and presented the resume of Fleet activities undertaken during the year 2017.