KARACHI: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will visit Karachi on Friday. He will be the chief guest at the launch ceremony of a major Pakistan Navy warship.

According to the PM House statement, the Pakistan Navy warship is a 17,000-ton fleet tanker built in collaboration with M/s STM of Turkey under the ambit of Ministry of Defence Production and the Pakistan Navy.

The fleet tanker “will play an important role in catering to the needs of Pakistan Navy in meeting its logistic needs”.

“The fleet tanker is a true testament of our efforts towards indigenization and self-reliance, and enhanced collaboration with our brothers in Turkey. The design of this ship by Turkey and its construction by Pakistan’s skilled manpower at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KS&EW), manifest an excellent combination to achieve indigenization through joint ventures with brotherly countries,” said the statement.

The PM House said the fleet tanker’s double-hull design would provide it with unrestricted entry into any port of the world.

“The design of PN Fleet Tanker (PNFT) is based on contemporary trends and is according to Bureau Veritas Rules for the Classification of Naval Ships.

“Pakistan and Turkey are time tested friends. Joint ventures like construction of this Fleet Tanker will further strengthen our mutual bonds characterized by faith, common heritage, shared civilization, and commonality of interests. This initiative will certainly open more opportunities for further cooperation between Pakistan and Turkey in the field of indigenous warship construction and other defence sector products,” it said.

The ship is being launched two months ahead of its schedule, it added.—INP