Reception hosted onboard Pak ship PNS Tipu Sultan

Commanding Officer of Pakistani ship PNS Tippu Sultan hosted an onboard reception dinner for the Pakistani and Bahraini dignitaries yesterday.

Many important persons including Turkish Ambassador Hatun Demirer, Foreign Ministry Assistant Undersecretary for the GCC and Western Countries Affairs Ambassador Dr. Dhafer Al Omran, Pakistan Ambassador Muhammad Saeed Khan, Deputy Commander Royal Bahrain Naval Force Brigadier Mohammed Yousif Al Asam, HOC Muhammad Ahad and Community Welfare Counsellor Maqsood Qadir Shah took part in it.

Speaking to DT News, Pakistan Ambassador Muhammad Saeed Khan said Pakistan’s relations with Bahrain are deep rooted on sound basis of religious and Cultural affinities and they would grow further and strengthen manifold.

Turkish Ambassador Hatun Demirer said she was very happy that Turkey successfully completed the command of CTF, “which we took over from Japan and this morning handed over to Pakistan, two friendly and brotherly countries that we cooperate closely in every fields.”

PNS Tippu Sultan is on a four day official visit to Bahrain. It has been shipped at Mina Salman Port and will leave on December 24.  During its visit, the crew will hold meetings with the officials of Bahrain Navy and will participate in other activities as well.

Captain Shafquat Hussain Akhtar, Commanding Officer of the Pakistan Navy Ship delivered a welcome speech.

He said the ship is equipped with modern weapons and sensors, capable of performing wide range maritime operations. He said the Tippu Sultan is on a joint Coalition Maritime Campaign and Counter Piracy Deployment under the ambit of CTF  150 and 151 since November 18. 

He said they were feeling at home in Bahrain and thanked Bahrain Defence Force for their kind hospitality and warm gesture.

“This visit is part of Pakistan’s strong defence ties with Bahrain,” said HOC Muhammad Ahad.

PNS Tippu Sultan has been named after Sultan Fateh Ali Tippu, the ruler of Indian state of Mysore, who sacrificed his life fighting the British Army in 1799. This is the third ship to carry this name in Pakistan Navy.

Pakistan Navy acquired the present vessel in 1994 and it has undergone major upgrades after its induction into the Navy.