Naval Chief performs launching of PNS Zulfiqar in Shanghai  
'Pakistan Times' Foreign Desk

BEIJING (China) : The Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir performed Monday in Shanghai the successful sea launching of the first of the four F-22P frigates that China is construing for Pakistan Navy.

Speaking at an impressive ceremony held at the Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard, Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir termed the occasion as “ a great day for the Pakistan Navy and a great day for Pakistan China friendship”.

“This sword class ship will be equipped with the state of the art weapons and sensors systems and will carry Z9EC Helicopters being manufactured in China,” said a press release.

Pakistan Ambassador to China Salman Bashir addressing the ceremony said that it was “yet another milestone in long and glorious history of Pakistan China friendship and strategic partnership”.

Under an agreement signed in 2005, PNS Zulfiqar is the first of the four frigates that is being constructed in close collaboration with Pakistan Navy at the Hudong Zhonghua shipyard in Shanghai.

The Project envisages complete transfer of technology for the construction of fourth ship at Karachi Shipyard and for this purpose it is being upgraded.

The launching ceremony was also attended by a high-ranking delegation from Pakistan Navy, the Consul General of Pakistan in Shanghai Zafarudding Mahmood, dignitaries, high officials of Chinese ministry of Industry and Information and PLA Navy.

In an interview earlier, with the China Daily the Naval Chief said that the frigates will “form a very important component” of the country’s surface fleet.

“They (frigates) will be deployed for the defense of our maritime interests and to meet our commitments in other aspects of maritime diplomacy,” the paper quoted Naval Chief as saying.●