Pakistan Navy to showcase ships, submarines at expo

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Pakistan Navy to showcase ships, submarines at expo

By Sarmad Qazi

Pakistan Navy’s recently-commissioned PNS Zulfiquar

Pakistan Navy (PN) will be participating in Dimdex 2010 with two ships and a submarine, an official said yesterday.

Units participating include PNS Zulfiquar, PNS submarine Humza and PNS missile boat Quwwat, which will be arriving at the Doha port on March 28, the official said.

Dimdex runs from March 29 to 31.

PNS Zulfiquar, a recently-commissioned frigate in PN, is fitted with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors and carries a Z9EC helicopter.

“The ship is part of the F-22P Project which encompasses construction of three frigates in China and also envisages complete transfer of technology for the construction of fourth ship at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works,” the official explained.

PN submarine Humza was constructed by Pakistan Navy in collaboration with French company DCNS.

“Humza is the first submarine to incorporate Mesma, an air independent propulsion system. The submarine with weapons and sensors, equipment efficiency, stealth and crew is fully capable of undertaking variety of missions,” the official said.

PNS missile boat Quwwat was constructed at the Karachi shipyard in 2006. In his comments, the official said, “It can be utilised in variety of roles like maritime interdiction operations, anti-surface vessel operations, air and coastal defence and picketing duties.”

The official also said that the Pakistan chief of naval staff Admiral Noman Bashir and Maritime Security Agency director-general Rear Admiral Tehseenullah Khan would be attending the event.

The ships will be open for visits by Pakistani school children on March 31 from 8am to 10am and for Pakistani community members in the evening from 3-5pm, the official said.

Entry passes can be obtained through Pakistan Embassy by March 20.

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