Pakistan: Turkey helps to build biggest warship fleet tanker

(AGI) - Karachi, Aug 19 - With the technical assistance from Turkey, Pakistan launched on Friday a 17,000-tonne heavy warship fleet tanker for is naval force. The design of the fleet tanker was prepared by Turkey, while the tanker itself was built in Pakistan's southern port city Karachi. The country's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif handed over the warship fleet tanker to Pakistan Navy in a ceremony today. Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Sharif said this project will further strengthen cooperation between Pakistan and Turkey. ''It is an example of Pakistan-Turkey cooperation and the construction of the fleet tanker will help achieve self-reliance in defense production," Sharif said. He announced a $ 1 million bonus for the Karachi Shipyard employees. According to the state-broadcaster Radio Pakistan, main role of this fleet tanker will be provision of logistic support to Pakistan Navy at sea in terms of liquid cargo. It will also conduct combat support operations and provide medical support to Pakistan Navy. It is the biggest war ship fleet tanker Pakistan Navy has. The Pakistani premier stressed his country is committed to protect its Maritime assets. He noted that with the completion of $46 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the responsibilities of Pakistan Navy will increase manifold. "This initiative will certainly open more opportunities for further cooperation between Pakistan and Turkey in the field of indigenous warship construction and other defence sector products," a communique issued by the government read. (AGI) .