Pakistan Navy to get First F-22P frigate by 2008
'Pakistan Times' Sindh Bureau

KARACHI: Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir has said that the first F-22P frigate will be delivered to Pakistan Navy in 2008 and the other three by 2013.

After completion of visit to China and Indonesia the Naval Chief was received at Islamabad International Airport by Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Mohammad Haroon, Chinese and Indonesian Ambassadors along with Defence Attache of respective countries and other senior naval officers.

According to Public Relations Directorate at Naval Headquarters the Naval Chief expressed complete satisfaction over Pakistan’s frigates deal with China.

Transfer of technology is the key element of the contract, which was signed on April 4, 2005 that would give quantum boost to the local expertise.

The keel for construction of the first F-22P frigate will be laid at the Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai this year.

The naval chief who concluded his official visit to China on Monday said in an interview that the fourth frigate will be constructed in Pakistan.

The contract includes upgrading of Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works, training and technical assistance by the Chinese side during construction of fourth F-22P frigate. “Modalities of its design and configuration are at the final stages,” he added.

During the visit to Indonesia the matters of bilateral issues and future collaboration in the field of naval operations and training came under discussion with Defence Minister and Indonesian Naval Chief.

The Admiral said during his stay in China he had very productive meetings with Chinese Defence Minister for Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence Jin Zhuang Long and other high-ranking naval officials.●