Islamabad, Oct 17: As part of its plans to
acquire modern warships, the Pakistan Navy will acquire four
frigates from China by 2011 and the first of these vessels
will be inducted into the force next year.
"Four F-22P Frigates, being manufactured in China,
will be included in the fleet of the Pakistan Navy by 2011,"
Commodore Kamran Khan, commander of the navy's destroyer
squadron, told reporters on board the warship PNS Babar in the
Arabian Sea today.
Under a plan to modernise its fleet by 2025, the
Pakistan Navy will acquire modern submarines, warships and
aircraft, he said.
Three F-22P frigates are being manufactured in China
while the last one will be built in the Pakistan Naval
Dockyard in Karachi.
The first frigate will be included in the fleet next
year. "Under a transfer of technology agreement with China,
Pakistan will be able to start manufacturing warships in
2010," Khan said.
Under the navy's modernisation plan, the government
has been asked to provide the force more warships and
submarines. New P-3C aircraft are being purchased from the US
for aerial surveillance, he added.
Khan said the Pakistan Navy is fully capable of
safeguarding its maritime obligations. One warship of the
Pakistan Navy is always present in the Indian Ocean with the
fleet of the allied forces, he said.
China will also build and launch a
telecommunication satellite for Pakistan.
Contracts for the satellite deal were inked during the
just-concluded state visit of Pakistan President Asif Ali
Zardari to China.
Pakistan will use the satellite for domestic
telecommunication and broadcast services.
The satellite's chief contractor -- China Great Wall
Industry Corporation (CGWIC) said that a 'Long March 3B'
rocket will be used to put the satellite into orbit in 2011.
The company said ground control facilities for the
satellite will be handed over to the Pakistan Space and Upper
Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) after it enters
orbit.
CGWIC and its sub-contractors are responsible for the
design, manufacturing, final assembly, testing and launch of
the satellite.
The satellite, 'PakSat-1R' will have a life span of 15
years.
As part of Beijing's effort to position itself as a
reliable and cost-effective space benefactor to the developing
world, the communist giant has already announced plans to
build and launch satellites for countries like Brazil and
Venezuela.
Bureau Report