Securing CPEC sea route: China hands two ships to Pakistan Navy

The vessels will be used jointly by the two navies for securing the sea route of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

China has handed over two ships to the Pakistan Navy at the Gwadar port. The two vessels will be used jointly by the two country’s navies for securing the sea route of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Radio Pakistan reported that the Chinese officials, who reached Gwadar aboard the ships, handed them over to Pakistan Navy at a ceremony at the Gwadar port.

Commander of Pakistan Fleet Vice Admiral Arifullah Hussaini received the ships, which have been named after two nearby rivers Hingol and Basole.

Speaking at the formal handing over ceremony, Vice Admiral Arifullah Hussain said the Chinese ships have become part of the Pakistan Navy, and they will be deployed for the security of the Gwadar port and the CPEC sea route.

The Chinese government will also provide two more ships, the Dasht and Zhob, to the Pakistan Navy. Both the ships are under construction in China and work on them will be completed soon.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 16^th, 2017.