KARACHI, Pakistan

The Pakistan Navy inducted a Turkish-built MILGEM Class Corvette into its fleet on Saturday in Karachi, the country's southern port city.

The 2nd PN MILGEM Class Corvette, PNS Khaibar, was inducted into the country's naval fleet during a ceremony attended by Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf and other senior officials, according to an official statement.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ashraf reaffirmed the Pakistan Navy's commitment to defending sovereign seas and fulfilling its role as guardian of the country's maritime borders.

He added that the induction of PNS Khaibar and the upcoming HANGOR-Class submarines is a watershed moment in the Pakistan Navy's modernization, increasing operational flexibility, combat power, and strategic reach.

Pakistan's strategic location along vital maritime trade and energy corridors necessitates a strong naval force to protect national interests and ensure secure sea lines of communication, he said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed the latest induction in a statement, describing it as another milestone in the country's defense capabilities and sea frontier defense.

Under a 2018 agreement, Pakistan acquired four MILGEM corvettes from Türkiye’s ASFAT: two built in Türkiye and two at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works, a model designed specifically to transfer design, engineering, and project management expertise to Pakistan.

MILGEM vessels are 99 meters (325 feet) long, have a displacement capacity of 2,400 tons, and can travel at speeds of 29 nautical miles. The anti-submarine combat frigates can be concealed from radar.

In October 2019, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and then-Chief of Pakistan Navy Adm. Zafar Mahmood Abbasi cut the metal plate of the first MILGEM Ada-class corvette during a ceremony in Istanbul.

Türkiye is one of 10 countries that can construct, design, and maintain warships using domestic resources.