Keel laying of second Hangor-class submarine held at Karachi Shipyard

The keel laying ceremony of the second Hangor-class submarine was conducted at the Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KS&EW) on Wednesday, the Pakistan Navy said in a statement.

The event was graced by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf as the chief guest, marking a significant step forward in Pakistan's naval capabilities.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), under the defence agreement between Pakistan and China, aimed at developing a fleet of 8 Hangor-class submarines, construction efforts are divided between the Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry in China and KS&EW in Pakistan. While four submarines are underway in China, the remaining four are being built at KS&EW under a Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreement.

This ceremony signifies the keel laying of the second submarine at KS&EW, following the successful commencement of the first submarine's construction in December 2022, which is currently progressing at an advanced stage.

Read also: Keel laying of Hangor class submarine held at Karachi Shipyard

Addressing the gathering, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf expressed profound pride in witnessing the progress of the Hangor-class submarine project. He commended the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Defence Production, Pakistan Navy, Karachi Shipyard, and China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co. Ltd (M/s CSOC) for their dedication to constructing state-of-the-art submarines.

Admiral Ashraf reiterated that indigenisation remains a top priority for Naval Headquarters, evident in the construction of these submarines at KS&EW.

Keel Laying Ceremony of the second Hangor-class submarine was held at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KS&EW). PHOTO: SCREENGRAB

Earlier in his welcome address, Rear Admiral Salman Ilyas, the Managing Director of KS&EW, reiterated the shipyard's commitment to achieving self-reliance in submarine construction. He emphasised that these submarines serve as a testament to KS&EW's dedication to national goals and expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Defense Production and the Pakistan Navy for their unwavering support and cooperation.

The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Embassy of China, CSOC (China), WSIG (China) and other high-ranking government officials including distinguished guests from the Ministry of Defence Production (MoDP) and the armed forces of Pakistan.