Pakistan Navy PNS Zulfiquar (FFG-251) visited port Jeddah, Saudi Arabia as part of overseas deployment. Upon arrival at port, the ship was received by Pakistan Naval & Air Attache at Saudi Arabia and officials of Royal Saudi Naval Force (RSNF). During stay at port, RSNF Commander Western Naval Fleet Command Rear Admiral Yahya Bin Mohammad Al Asiri and Commander Western Naval Aviation Group Rear Admiral Mohammad Bin Saeed Al Ahmri visited onboard PN Ship and called-on Mission Commander Commodore Syed Rizwan Khalid. During the interaction, matters of mutual interest were discussed and contribution of Pakistan Navy to regional peace and maritime security were acknowledged by the visiting dignitary. Mission Commander also conveyed well wishes from Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi for the people of Saudi Arabia in general and RSNF in particular.
Earlier to Jeddah port visit, PNS ZULFIQUAR separately conducted passage exercises with Italian Navy Ship VEGA & Turkish Navy Ship TCG GOKCEADA at Mediterranean Sea. The exercises encompassed Advanced Maritime Maneuvers including Maritime Interdiction Operations, Boarding and Force Protection drills. The exercises were aimed to enhance military cooperation through naval engagement and augment interoperability between the friendly navies. During the Overseas Deployment, PNS ZULFIQUAR participated in Russian Navy Day Parade besides port visits and conduct of bilateral exercises with friendly countries in Europe and North Africa. Conduct of such deployments by Pakistan Navy Ships is a reaffirmation of PN’s commitment and growing cooperation with friendly navies of the world.
PNS Zulfiquar (FFG-251) is the lead ship of the F-22P Zulfiquar-class guided missile frigates since 2009. She was designed and constructed by Chinese firm, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding in Shanghai, for the Pakistan Navy. The vessel’s design is primarily influenced from the Type 053H3 frigate. After the bilateral contract was signed between Pakistan and China on 4 April 2006, she was designed and constructed by the Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding Co. in China and her steel cutting was held on 10 October 2006 in Shanghai. She was officially laid down on 24 July 2007 and was launched on 7 April 2008 to complete several sea trials in China. She is the lead ship of her class and was acquired by the Pakistan Navy on 30 July 2009. On 12 September 2009, she arrived and reported to her base, Naval Base Karachi and commissioned in the Pakistan Navy.
