Senate body praises Navy’s operational preparedness

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Defence has expressed satisfaction over the Pakistan Navy’s operational preparedness and nation building efforts. 

An  11-member delegation of the Senate Standing Committee on Defence, headed by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, visited facilities and installations of the Pakistan Navy at Karachi and coastal areas.

The committee assured its full support to the Pakistan Navy in its future development plans for safeguarding the maritime interests of Pakistan in the Indian Ocean.  During the three-day visit, the delegation was taken to the Fleet Headquarters, Pakistan Navy Dockyard, Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works and Fleet Units including ships and submarines. 

During the visit, a comprehensive briefing was given to the committee on the emerging contemporary challenges in the region and Pakistan Navy's role in safeguarding the country's maritime interests. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah was also present during the briefing. The committee was apprised on the adversary's massive naval build-up particularly acquisition of nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers which are a matter of serious concern not only for Pakistan but also for regional peace. 

The Senate Committee was also briefed on the indigenisation programme of the Pakistan Navy.

The three-day activity also covered a visit to the Jinnah Naval Base at Ormara, considered the future home port of the PN Fleet, where they were briefed on various developmental projects of the base. Besides operational development plans, the committee was also briefed on Pakistan Navy’s contributions towards nation building and initiatives to uplift socio-economic condition of Baloch populace residing along the Makran Coastal belt. 

During visit of the Cadet College Ormara, where 50% of the cadets are from Balochistan whose education is free, the committee members were apprised about the quality education and training being provided to the cadets.

During the visit of 100 bed hospital PNS Darman Jah, the committee was briefed about the quality medical facilities afforded to the local population in addition to PN personnel. 

Later the committee visited Gwadar port where it was briefed about the importance of the port for the CPEC project and the effective measures PN has taken for the security of the port and its seaward approaches.

On the occasion, the Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Defence  Mushahid Hussain Sayed expressed satisfaction over PN’s operational preparedness and nation building efforts. 

The committee assured its full support to PN in its future developmental plans for safeguarding the maritime interests of Pakistan in the Indian Ocean.