KARACHI, Sept 19: Pakistan Navy’s first indigenously built Agosta submarine ‘Saad’ has successfully completed the maximum depth trails (P-Dive), marking the end of platform trials.

According to an ISPR release, the water-tight integrity of pressure hull was according to international quality standards. It marks completion of 80 of the total number of trials, the release added.

The submarine would be commissioned after the remaining weapon trials by the end of this year.

The Saad, being built by PN Dockyard, was launched in August last year. The third submarine ‘Hamza’ is in the advanced stages of construction and would be inducted in 2005.

The successful completion of P-Dive by the Saad highlights the commitment of Pakistan Navy towards self-reliance in defence production.

The submarine was received at the jetty on Thursday by Vice-Admiral Mohammad Haroon, Chief of Staff Pakistan Navy, Rear Admiral Farooq Rashid, Commander Logistics and Commodore Nayyar Iqbal, Managing Director Dockyard.