'Zulfiquar' on goodwill mission

Pakistan Navy Ship "Zulfiquar" Commanding Officer Captain Zahid Ilyas paid a courtesy call on Navy Commander Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe on Saturday at the Naval Headquarters.

PNS "Zulfiquar", a Pakistani warship arrived on Saturday on a goodwill visit to Sri Lanka. Upon its arrival, PNS "Zulfiquar" was ceremonially welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy. Defence Adviser of Pakistan to Sri Lanka Colonel Syed Khurram Hassnain Alam was also present at the welcoming ceremony at the Colombo Port. PNS "Zulfiquar", a Destroyer, is 123m long, 13.2m wide and 30.7m in height. It has a displacement of 3143.9 tons and a crew of 14 officers and188 sailors.The ship's visit to Sri Lanka is expected to strengthen the ties and cooperation between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

As members of SAARC, both countries share much in common. Educational, cultural, trade and military exchange programs between the two nations play a vital role in strengthening the diplomatic ties. Sri Lanka Navy in particular has benefited much from training courses offered by the Pakistan Navy. The Pakistani Navy offers many berths to follow advanced naval training in their prestigious training establishments to its Sri Lankan counterpart, annually. PNS

'Zulfiquar', which set sail from Kelang in Malaysia, its last port of call, is set to proceed back home to Karachi in Pakistan upon completing its goodwill visit to Sri Lanka.