KARACHI ( Jul 24 , APP)
The launching ceremony of PNS Sahiwal (Desig) Gun Boat was held at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KS\&EW). The vessel has been indigenously designed by the Platform Design Wing (PDW) of the Pakistan Navy and is currently under construction at KS\&EW.
According to the Directorate General Public Relations (Pak Navy), this state-of-the-art gunboat will be equipped with high-performance, long-range semi-automatic guns. It will significantly be enhancing the Navy’s capabilities for coastal and maritime security operations.
Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awais Ahmed Bilgrami, graced the event as Chief Guest. In his address, he appreciated the collaborative efforts of PDW and KS\&EW in advancing Pakistan Navy’s vision of self-reliance through indigenous design and shipbuilding.
He acknowledged the valuable support of the Ministry of Defence Production (MoDP) and emphasized that this gunboat would play a vital role in fulfilling a wide range of maritime security missions.
Chief Guest also announced that Pakistan Navy is considering the further production of similar gunboats, contributing to both national security and the long-term growth of the shipbuilding industry.
Why Named “PNS Sahiwal”?
The gunboat is named after the city of Sahiwal, located in the Punjab province of Pakistan. This naming follows the Pakistan Navy’s tradition of naming smaller vessels, such as patrol boats and gunboats, after prominent Pakistani cities.
The name pays tribute to Sahiwal’s strategic and cultural importance and reflects the Navy’s connection with various regions of the country.
This practice complements the naming of larger naval ships after historic Muslim leaders or battles, such as PNS Babur and PNS Tipu Sultan. Smaller vessels like PNS Bannu and PNS Sahiwal carry names of Pakistani cities to honor the national landscape and heritage.
The ceremony was attended by senior naval officers, officials from the Ministry of Defence Production, and representatives from the shipbuilding industry.