KARACHI:
The Pakistan Navy on Thursday launched the locally designed and developed Gun Boat PNS Sahiwal at a ceremony held at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KS&EW).
Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ovais Ahmed Bilgrami, attended the event as chief guest. The vessel, developed under the Navy’s policy of indigenisation and self-reliance, has been designed by the Navy’s Platform Design Wing and was under construction at KS&EW.
Launching ceremony of PNS SAHIWAL (Desig) Gun Boat held at @ShipyardKarachi. VCNS V/Adm Ovais Ahmed Bilgrami graced occasion as CG. The Gun Boat is indigenously designed by Platform Design Wing of PN & is under construction at KS&EW. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/N66OicFXFY
— DGPR (Navy) (@dgprPaknavy) July 24, 2025
Speaking on the occasion, Vice Admiral Bilgrami praised the collaborative efforts of the Platform Design Wing and KS&EW, describing the project as a significant milestone in Pakistan’s indigenous shipbuilding capability.
He also acknowledged the Ministry of Defence Production (MoDP) for its continued support in strengthening the country’s maritime industrial base.
Highlighting the vessel’s capabilities, he noted that the Gun Boat is equipped with high-performance, long-range semi-automatic guns, enabling it to perform a range of maritime security operations with enhanced efficiency.
Photo: X/ Pakistan Navy
The platform is designed for versatility and can operate effectively in both coastal and open-sea environments.
The vice admiral further stated that the Navy is considering the series production of similar vessels to support ongoing modernisation efforts and promote the sustained growth of local shipbuilding infrastructure.
The ceremony was attended by senior officials from the Pakistan Navy, MoDP, KS&EW, and representatives from the shipbuilding industry.
