Pakistan Navy Launches Indigenous Gunboat PNS Sahiwal at Karachi Shipyard

KARACHI – The Pakistan Navy successfully launched the PNS Sahiwal, an indigenously designed advanced gunboat, at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KS&EW) on Thursday.

Developed by the Platform Design Wing (PDW) of the Pakistan Navy, the vessel reflects a growing national capability in local warship production and signals a new era in the country’s naval modernization and indigenization.

According to a statement from the Directorate General Public Relations (Pakistan Navy), the PNS Sahiwal is equipped with long-range semi-automatic naval guns, making it a versatile platform for coastal defense, maritime patrol, and anti-surface warfare operations.

Its cutting-edge systems will significantly boost Pakistan’s regional security posture and contribute to safeguarding strategic sea lanes and exclusive economic zones (EEZs).

Vice Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ovais Ahmed Bilgrami, who presided over the ceremony, applauded the Pakistan Navy’s engineering ingenuity and praised Karachi Shipyard for its role in delivering high-quality naval assets.

“The launch of PNS Sahiwal is a proud moment in our journey toward defense self-reliance. It exemplifies our commitment to strengthen indigenous shipbuilding,” he stated.

Vice Admiral Bilgrami also thanked the Ministry of Defence Production (MoDP) for its continued support in realizing Pakistan’s vision for an indigenous naval fleet.

Reaffirming the Navy’s future plans, Vice Admiral Bilgrami shared that additional gunboats are being planned to meet the evolving maritime security challenges and to further enhance shipbuilding capacity at KS&EW.

The event brought together a distinguished audience, including senior Pakistan Navy officers, representatives from the MoDP, executives from Karachi Shipyard, and members of Pakistan’s defense industrial base, underscoring the synergy between military leadership and national industry.

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