The Pakistan Navy held the launching ceremony of the indigenously designed PNS Sahiwal Gun Boat at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KS\&EW) on Thursday. Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ovais Ahmed Bilgrami, attended the event as chief guest, according to a statement from the Directorate General Public Relations (Pakistan Navy).
Designed by the Platform Design Wing (PDW) of the Pakistan Navy and currently under construction at KS\&EW, PNS Sahiwal is a modern gun boat equipped with high-performance, long-range semi-automatic weaponry, intended to enhance Pakistan Navy’s operational capabilities in various maritime missions.
Addressing the ceremony, Vice Admiral Bilgrami commended the collaborative efforts of PDW and KS\&EW in advancing the Navy’s indigenization goals. He also acknowledged the Ministry of Defence Production for its consistent support to the shipyard.
The Vice Chief highlighted that the gun boat is designed to execute a range of maritime security operations and affirmed that Pakistan Navy is considering further production of similar vessels to strengthen local shipbuilding and expand indigenous capabilities.
Senior officials from the Navy, Ministry of Defense Production, KS\&EW, and the shipbuilding sector were present.
