ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy (PN) Ships Khaibar and Nasr during theirconcurrent overseas deployment to East African Countries and Island Statesof Indian Ocean visited Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania) and Mombasa (Kenya)respectively.
The goodwill-cum-training visits of PN ships were aimed to strengthenfriendly ties with East African countries thus contributing towardsforeign policy objectives of the government.
In pursuance of the same, PN ships earlier visited Port Victoria atSeychelles and Port Louis at Mauritius, respectively, a press statementissued here by Director of Public Relations of Pakistan Navy on Friday said.
Upon their arrival, both the ships were accorded warm welcome by hostnavies in their respective ports.Tanzanian Navy extended cordial gesture by sending Tanzanian Navy ShipTembo (P-71) to welcome PNS Khaibar in Tanzanian waters.
Whereas upon arrival at berth, PNS Khaibar was received by a number ofofficers and sailors of Tanzanian Navy along with Naval and Air Advisor ofPakistan and other officials of Pakistan High Commission Dar Es Salaam.
PNS Nasr was received by Kenyan Navy contingent with traditional navalhospitality. Defence Adviser of Pakistan along with Pakistan HighCommission Nairobi staff was also present on the occasion.
During the stay at Mombasa port, PN Mission Commander Commodore JavaidIqbal along with Commanding Officer PNS Nasr called on Brigadier V LNaisho, Commander of Kenya Navy Base Mtongwe, Hassan Ali Joho, Governor ofMombasa and Evan Achoki County Commissioner of Mombasa.
Commanding Officer PNS Khaibar held meetings with various high rankingTanzanian officials which included General Kivuyo Chief of Tanzania PeopleDefence Forces (TPDF), Rear Admiral Richard Mutayoba Commander TanzanianNavy and Brig General H S Kamunde Acting Chief of Operations and TrainingTPDF.
During the meetings, dignitaries from both the countries were appreciativeof Pakistan Navy’s role in maintaining peace and stability in their regionthrough regular deployments with Coalition Forces to curb the menace ofpiracy and terrorism on high seas.Crews from both the ships also undertook charity work in their respectiveports.
Officers and ship’s company of PNS Khaibar visited Kigamboni CommunityOrphanage and Kigamboni Health Centre and distributed food hampers andmedicines. Men from PNS Nasr visited Noor Orphanage and Little Sisters ofthe Poor (Old Homes) and distributed gift hampers containing food items,school bags and stationery.
Medicine boxes arranged from Karachi prior departure were also handed overto local city government reps as donations for the people.
Both the ships conducted reception dinners onboard during their port stay.The events were well attended by large number of diplomatic and defensefraternities of the cities along with prominent Pakistani expatriates.
Both the ships finally departed their respective ports after successfulvisits for return voyage to Karachi.These port visits by PN ships will further enhance PN’s bilateral relationswith important East African countries.