President Asif Ali Zardari and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf pose for a group photo with Pakistani and Chinese officials during the commissioning ceremony of Pakistan’s first Hangor-class submarine PNS Hangor in Sanya. PHOTO: NNI
ISLAMABAD:
The commissioning ceremony of Pakistan’s first Hangor-class submarine, PNS Hangor, took place on Thursday in Sanya, China.
The event was attended by President Asif Ali Zardari and Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf to mark the significant milestone for Pakistan Navy, the military’s media wing said.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), President Zardari described the commissioning of Hangor as a historic milestone in Pakistan Navy’s modernisation, affirming Pakistan’s resolve to maintain a robust, balanced, and credible defence posture.”
He stated that Pakistan is fully capable of defending its sovereignty, protecting its maritime interests, and ensuring the security of its economic lifelines, the statement added.
Admiral Ashraf highlighted that disruptions at critical maritime choke points increasingly threaten global trade and energy security. He stated that maintaining a stable, rule-based maritime order demanded technologically advanced naval forces.
He added that the Hangor-class submarines, equipped with modern weapons, advanced sensors, and Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) systems, would play a key role in maintaining regional maritime stability and deterring aggression.
“These submarines will play a pivotal role in deterring aggression and ensuring the security of vital Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) across the Arabian Sea and the wider Indian Ocean region,” he said.
The ISPR statement further noted that the naval chief reiterated the significance of the name Hangor in Pakistan’s national history.
“In 1971, the earlier Hangor became the first submarine since World War II to sink a warship. PNS Hangor will carry this illustrious legacy forward. This is an important milestone for Pakistan Navy that will bolster our maritime defence and modernise our fleet with cutting-edge technology,” it stated.
The statement also said that the commissioning of the first Hangor-class submarine marks another chapter in the time-tested and enriching friendship between Pakistan and China. The ceremony was attended by senior officials from the Pakistan Navy and the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA(N)).
“The prime minister and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir have congratulated the entire nation and Pakistan Navy on achieving this historic milestone,” the statement concluded.
A government official said the fleet would consist of eight submarines; four would be made ?in China and delivered to Islamabad, while another four will be made ?in Pakistan under a transfer-of-technology program.
