Pakistan, Turkey’s STM sign contract

ISLAMABAD: Contract for construction of Fleet Tanker (Logistic Support Ship) for Pakistan Navy was signed between Ministry of Defence Production, Pakistan and STM of Turkey on Tuesday in Rawalpindi.
The contract has been signed by Munitions Productions Director General Rear Admiral Imtiaz Ahmed SI(M) on behalf of the government of Pakistan and Board of STM Chairperson and Electronics Warfare and Sensors programmes in SSM Department Head Elife Unal on behalf of STM, Turkey.
The main highlights of the project are that design of the ship along with kit of Matrial (KoM) will be provided by STM and the complete construction and assembly activities will be undertaken at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works Ltd. Ship construction is a strategic industry, in fact no country has gained the status of a developed country without the development of the shipbuilding industry and trained manpower in this field. Therefore, construction Fleet Tanker at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works will not only enhance ship construction (tanker) capacity and expertise of the Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works, but will also help in developing its human resource to meet the future challenges of warship design and construction. Local downstream industry, in the long run will also benefit from the ship construction in the form of procurement of construction consumables by Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works from the local market.
The Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works is already constructing ships and craft for Pakistan Navy, however, this is the first time in the history of Pakistan that Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works will build a Fleet Tanker (Logistics Support Ship) at its facilities. Construction of the Fleet Tanker is in line with Admiral Mohammad Asif Sandila NI (M), Chief of the Naval Staff’s vision of achieving self-reliance and indigenisation of defence equipment. The tanker with its modern design and state-of-the-art capabilities will significantly enhance Pakistan Navy’s fleet combat prowess and logistic stamina.
Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works has three main business areas: building military and civil vessels, ship repair and heavy engineering. It builds vessels for all of Pakistan’s port authorities. Since inception in the 1950s the yard has built around 440 different vessels and is equipped build large vessels, such as naval vessels, tugs, dredgers, hopper barges, ferries, trawlers and launches.
Ship repair is a major part of Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works undertakings and the company has so far repaired more than 5,000 domestic and international vessels. In order to enhance the capacity and capability for shipbuilding and repair, Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works is installing a ship lift and transfer system, which is due to be completed by the current year.
The partnership in the field of defence production speaks volume of the relations enjoyed by two countries. Pakistan and Turkey have long-standing strategic ties. Both brotherly Muslim countries have time-tested relations. staff report

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