KARACHI – July 24, 2025 – The Pakistan Navy marked a major milestone in indigenization today with the launch of PNS Sahiwal, a domestically designed and constructed gun boat. The ceremony took place at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KS&EW), underlining the country’s growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
The vessel, dubbed a state-of-the-art platform, was conceptualized by the Platform Design Wing (PDW) of the Pakistan Navy and is now being built at KS&EW. Equipped with long‑range, semi‑automatic high-performance guns, PNS Sahiwal is poised to significantly boost the Navy’s operational capacity in maritime security, coastal patrol, and rapid response missions .
The launch was presided over by Vice Admiral Ovais Ahmed Bilgrami, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, who praised the collaboration between PDW and KS&EW. During his remarks, he reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to strengthening indigenization efforts and acknowledged the supportive role of the Ministry of Defence Production .
Vice Admiral Bilgrami emphasized that PNS Sahiwal is only the first in a planned series of such vessels. “Additional production of gun boats is under consideration,” he said, noting that their production will further elevate KS&EW while reinforcing Pakistan’s defence manufacturing autonomy .
The launching ceremony was attended by senior officials from the Pakistan Navy, representatives of the Ministry of Defence Production, KS&EW leadership, and key shipbuilding industry stakeholders .
PNS Sahiwal is part of a broader class of indigenous gun boats, with dozens already contracted for construction. These 220‑ton vessels are being built in domestic shipyards under evolving design and technology support, including collaborations with Swiftships USA .
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Boosting Maritime Capabilities Through Indigenization
Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works, established in 1957 and entirely owned by Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence Production, plays a central role in the country’s naval modernisation efforts. It now manufactures major vessels—including warships, submarines, patrol boats, and support craft—for the Pakistan Navy and other maritime agencies .
The launch of PNS Sahiwal reaffirms Pakistan’s strategic shift toward building critical defence platforms at home, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers, and enhancing its regional maritime posture.