Gilani assures full support to Pakistan Navy

Prime Minister asked the Naval Chief to continue the policy of induction of women in the Pakistan Navy.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Monday said that the government would continue to extend full support to strengthen defense capabilities of the Pakistan Navy.

He was talking to the newly inducted Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Asif Sandila here at the Prime Minister House.

(Read: "New chief for Pakistan Navy")

Prime Minister asked the Naval Chief to continue the policy of induction of women as officers and sailors in the Pakistan Navy as his government did not believe in gender discrimination.

The Prime Minister also directed the Naval Chief to encourage recruitment of Baloch youth in the Navy like Pakistan Army that had recruited around 6,000 people of the province.

The Prime Minister said the Pakistan Navy should also open up recruitment centers, educational institutions and hospitals in remote and less developed areas of the country especially in Balochistan, Sindh and Southern Punjab.

Gilani said the completion of the road between Gwadar and Ratodero would connect the port city with the rest of the country and boost trade activities. He hoped it would also increase operational activities at the port.

Prime Minister Gilani said he had already issued instructions that all the activities relating to the import of fertilizer and export of wheat be handled by the Gwadar Port to use its potential and also prove its competitiveness as far as the operational capabilities are concerned.

The Prime Minister also appreciated the relief efforts of the Pakistan Navy during the catastrophic rains in the interior Sindh by dropping food bags in the areas cut off due to the stranded rain water.

(Read: “Floods 2011: Army and Navy continue relief work”)

He particularly noted the well-planned operation at Sanghir, Tharparker and Mirpurkhas to save lives in the aftermath of unprecedented rains.