Pakistan commissioned on Saturday its second MILGEM-class corvette, PNS Khaibar, at a ceremony held at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard in Turkey.

The commissioning marked another milestone in Pakistan–Turkey defense cooperation, according to an official statement.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the ceremony as the chief guest. Pakistan’s Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf was also present.

Addressing the ceremony, Erdoğan described Pakistan–Turkey relations as exemplary and rooted in strong brotherly ties.

He stressed the importance of further enhancing mutual collaboration, particularly in defense production, to strengthen strategic cooperation between the two countries.

Speaking on the occasion, Admiral Ashraf acknowledged the efforts and commitment of M/s ASFAT, Istanbul Naval Shipyard and the original equipment manufacturers involved in the planning, design and construction of Pakistan Navy’s MILGEM ships.

He appreciated the deepening defense partnership between Pakistan and Turkey.

Ashraf said close bilateral engagements between the Pakistan Navy and the Turkish Naval Forces significantly contribute to regional maritime security and reflect the enduring partnership between the two nations.

Following the ceremony, Erdoğan visited PNS Khaibar. He was presented a guard of honor and interacted with the ship’s crew.

During the visit, the Turkish president and the Pakistan Navy chief exchanged views on regional maritime security. They also discussed avenues for future joint initiatives between the two navies.

The MILGEM-class ships are among the most technologically advanced surface platforms of the Pakistan Navy. They are equipped with state-of-the-art command and control systems, modern weaponry and advanced sensors.

The contract for the construction of four MILGEM-class ships for Pakistan was signed in 2018. The agreement was between Pakistan’s Ministry of Defense Production and Turkey’s M/s ASFAT.

Under the contract, two ships were constructed in Turkey, while the remaining two are being built in Pakistan. The commissioning of PNS Khaibar marks the completion of construction of both ships in Turkey.