Muhammad Asim Saddiqi 
Karachi: Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Raja Rab Nawaz has said that the Pakistan Navy is always ready and alert against all threats faced in the region. According to a news report, he said that we are always keeping an eye on the activities happening around us, we are constantly monitoring, it is an ongoing process, our vigilance and our preparedness are always maintained.
He was talking to the media on the second day of the Pakistan International Maritime Expo and Conference 2025 (PIMEC-25) held at the Karachi Expo Center. Vice Admiral Raja Rab Nawaz has said that Pakistan will soon induct new submarines into its naval fleet, which will play a significant role in national and maritime security.
He said that the role of the Pakistan Navy is to ensure maritime security in the region and maintain the free flow of trade, as the new submarines will play a significant role in this regard in the coming days.
Vice Admiral Raja Rab Nawaz has also said that this exhibition is an attempt to promote Pakistan’s maritime sector and blue economy. There are some maritime industries in Pakistan that are not very prominent and are less known. Stressing on the effective functioning of ports, he expressed hope that Gwadar Port will soon become fully functional.
Raja Rab Nawaz stated that Gwadar is situated in a highly strategic location, which will significantly enhance transshipment and maritime trade. A fully operational Gwadar Port will offer immense economic opportunities in the future.
Karachi Shipyard and New Projects
He said that Karachi Shipyard is also a large participant in PIMEC-25. On this occasion, he reminded that Karachi Shipyard was built a long time ago, so there are some limitations in the type of ships built there.
He said that the world has come a long way. Today, the shipyards of the world are very big and modern. We are also trying to build a new shipyard of the same type in Gwadar. Hopefully, there will be progress in this regard. Vice Admiral said that similarly, discussions are underway to build a shipyard in Port Qasim. I think we need to build more shipyards, and the sooner this work is done, the better.
