Navy should be strong in present environment, says naval chief

ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Zakaullah has said that Pakistan is a peace loving country that seeks to pursue and safeguard its legitimate economic and security interests.

Speaking at the convocation ceremony of 46th Pakistan Navy Staff Course held at the Pakistan Navy War College, Lahore, the naval chief, however, said in the obtaining environment, the need for a strong navy could not have been felt more profoundly.

Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah conferred Masters Degrees in War Studies (Maritime) to 43 graduates from the Pakistan Navy, Pak Army, Pakistan Air Force and 20 officers from allied countries including Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Sri-Lanka and the UAE.

The Naval Chief, while addressing the occasion, highlighted that quest for resources and influence is generating competition and new alignments, in an evolving and uncertain world. 

He said that in the region where Pakistan exists, the stakeholders are increasingly turning towards sea and significant investments are being made towards strategic and conventional build up of naval forces. "This is evident from the near permanent presence of large number of Extra Regional Forces in the area," he said.

Advising the graduating officers, Admiral Zakaullah emphasised that an officer in the leadership position must face future challenges boldly with a professional approach and make best use of knowledge and skills acquired in the service of respective navies. 

Citing the healthy participation of Allied Course participants, the Naval Chief said that Pakistan and Pakistan Navy will now have twenty more Ambassadors and friends forever and hoped that allied officers will stay connected with new friends made during the year and PN War College.

The Naval Chief congratulated the graduating officers and acknowledged the resolve of PN War College and forthright support of National Defence University in undertaking all the activities of the course.

 Earlier in his welcome address, Commandant PN War College, Rear Admiral Moazzam Ilyas summarised the professional and academic activities in which the graduating officers were imparted skills during the course. 

He said that the presence of sizeable number of graduating allied officers is indeed encouraging and signifies the fraternal bonds between these countries and Pakistan and above all between our Navies.