The Pakistan Navy, will takeover the command of Combined Task Force-151 from December 01, as this is the first time Pakistan will lead the international maritime coalition force which has been operating in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia coast against piracy in international seas.
Commander Pakistan Fleet, Vice-Admiral Taveer Faiz said this on Monday while briefing newsmen on arrival here at the PN the Dockyard of third F-22P frigate PNS Saif from Shanghai, China.
The new F-22P ship, the third in the series built for Pakistan Navy in the Shanghai shipyard, will be formally inducted in the Pakistan Navy fleet in a ceremony on November 11. The last and fourth F-22P ship is currently being built at the Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KSEW) under a transfer of technology agreement from China. The fourth F-22P ship will be ready by 2013. For the construction of this frigate, special modifications were made in KSEW for making the shipyard capable of building warships.
Pakistan signed a contract with China for four F-22P ships in 2005, among which the last one would be built in Pakistan. The first F-22P frigate of the series, PNS Zulfiqar, was handed over to Pakistan Navy in July 2009.
The PN fleet commander said that previously Pakistan Navy had commanded the Combined Task Force-150 active in Northern Arabian Sea against multiple maritime threats including terrorism, piracy, human, and contraband smuggling.
He said that at a time one ship and one helicopter of Pakistan Navy were taking part in each of the combined maritime task force 150 and 151, which comprises several regional and international navies.
During its participation in the in the two coalition forces, the Pakistan Navy acquired knowledge about procedures and operations of modern and bigger naval forces. Moreover, he said that with operations of CTF-150, the maritime region bordering Pakistan, especially Strait of Hormuz had been rendered safe for international sea trade especially for oil shipments. Otherwise, it would be difficult for Pakistan alone to safeguard the whole strategically important maritime area.
The navies of Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Thailand, the UK, the USA, Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, take part in CTF-150 in the Northern Arabian Sea. Vice-Admiral Faiz said that induction of modern naval platforms like F-22P had greatly enhanced maritime defence capabilities of Pakistan against major sea threats faced by the country.
Replying to a question regarding naval capabilities of India, the PN fleet commander said that ìwe are not into any arms race with any country.î Efforts have always made to enhance naval weapon and aviation capabilities so that Pakistan Navy can put up a capable and honourable defence of the countryís maritime frontiers, he added.
He said that with induction of F-22P ships, Pakistan has found an economical and affordable solution to upgrade and modernise its defence capabilities. This had to be done as the maritime region adjacent to the country has a crucial sea route, which carries around 66 per cent oil and energy supplies of the world.
Commanding Officer, PNS Saif, Captain Muhammad Zubair Shafique, said the F-22P is a state-of-the-art sword class ship equipped with long range surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, depth charges, torpedoes, latest automatic 76 mm guns, close-in-weapon system, electronic warfare and advanced control system.
The Chinese frigate has advance anti-submarine warfare capability with state-of-the-art SONAR that can detect submarines at long ranges. The ship anti-submarine capabilities are enhanced as it carries Z9EC helicopter especially built for the purpose. Captain Shafique said the PNS Saif, the new F-22P frigate, had arrived at PN Dockyard from Shanghai China after visiting ports of Brunei, Jakarta, Bangkok, Maldives, as goodwill maritime gestures.
Meanwhile, about the Gwadar Port deal, the naval fleet commander said the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Noman Bashir in his capacity of federal governmentís adviser on maritime affairs, had advised the government to revisit the agreement, it had singed with Port of Singapore Authority for operations and development of infrastructure at Gwadar port.
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