September 27, 2008	Saturday	Ramazan 26, 1429

KARACHI, Sept 26: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has termed the induction of the indigenously-built Agosta 90 B submarine Hamza into the Pakistan Navy an ‘important landmark’ which gave the naval force a ‘qualitative edge over its adversary’.

Addressing the commissioning ceremony of the submarine at the PNS Dockyard here on Friday, the prime minister assured the navy that his government would do everything possible to meet its needs.

He said that 76 metre long submarine was capable of firing the SM-39 Exocet missile and DM-2 A-4 wire-guided torpedo and had the integrated combat system and the special MESMA air independent propulsion system.

With MESMA, the length of submarine has been increased by 8.67 metres. It has a range of 10,000 nautical miles and can stay at sea continuously for 60 days.

The prime minister appreciated the Navy’s commitment to achieving self-reliance in support of the government’s policies and said that construction of Agosta 90 B submarines and future ships was a testimony to professional competence of Pakistan.

Mr Gilani praised the skills and capabilities of Pakistani engineers and workmen, and also paid homage to 11 French technicians who were killed on May 22, 2002, in Karachi.

He said that Pakistan valued its relationship with France and was looking forward to taking the multifaceted bilateral relationship to a new height when President Nicolas Sarkozy visited Pakistan.

He said that squadrons of Mirage aircraft and Agosta submarines were a testimony to this important friendship.

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Afzal Tahir said the commissioning of the Hamza submarine brought a paradigm shift in the undersea warfare in the region.

He said the experience gained from Agosta 90 B project would be used for new generation submarines.

He lso recalled the “strong bonds of friendship” between Pakistan and France and appreciated the role of French engineers and technicians in making the project a success.