Pakistan will continue to strengthen defence forces: Hamza submarine launched

Pakistan will continue to strengthen its defence forces in order to ensure 'our sovereignty and stability in the region', declared President General Pervez Musharraf.
"Security and peace is only guaranteed through credible defence and strength and never through weakness. The prevailing situation in Lebanon bears testimony to this fact", he observed while addressing the launching ceremony of Pakistan Navy's indigenously built submarine Hamza on Thursday at PN Dockyard here.
The President stressed the need for today's geo-political scenario it was of utmost importance to be self-reliant specially in defence production. He said Pakistan's defence forces are embarked on indigenisation programmes and projects like F-22 P frigates and submarine construction, adding that Al-Khalid and Al-Zarrar tanks and JF-17 Thunder aircraft projects are indicative of 'our firm determination to make the country's defence impregnable.'
Musharraf said: "Today is a great day in our history as we have obtained technical expertise to construct this complex platform. I commend and congratulate all engineers and technicians who by no means of their hard work and dedicated efforts have made the dream come true."
He announced Rs 5 million to those who involved in submarine construction project.
Addressing the submarine crew, Musharraf said: "You are going to operate most latest and state-of-the-art war machine which, in fact, is offensive punch of Pakistan Navy. We are all proud of you."
The President specially thanked the French government and its DCN company for their continued co-operation to construct three Agosta-class submarines. He paid rich tributes to French technicians, who lost their lives in tragic incident and reiterated his condolences to the bereaved families.
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir, in his address of welcome, said with this "landmark achievement, Pakistan is now at par with few advanced nations capable of building these highly complex state-of-the-art vessels. It also culminated transfer of technology process, a strong element of submarine construction contract with France."
He said submarine 'Hamza' is most advanced version of Agosta design and equipped with latest state-of-the-art systems, adding Pakistan is the first country to introduce a unique Air Independent System Mesma, which would enable submarine to achieve greater underwater endurance and long range.
The Naval chief said it will also provide enhanced reconnaissance and stealth capability making it ideal platform for offensive operations. It is capable of firing anti-ship missiles and torpedoes.
Later, First Lady Begum Sehba Musharraf formally launched submarine by making Aab-e-Zamzam bottle slide along a rope and sprinkling sacred water on its hull. This centuries-old naval tradition symbolises making submarine sail into open sea. Submarine 'Hamza' will now undergo extensive harbour, sea trials and on successful completion handed over to Navy by June 2007.
Earlier, on arrival at submarine construction yard, President Musharraf was introduced to its constructors. Later, he formally named submarine as Hamza after great Muslim warrior Hazrat Amir Hamza.
The Pakistan Navy signed an agreement with the DCN France in September 1994 to construct three Agosta-class submarines with transfer of technology in phases. As per contract, the first was completely built in France and inducted in the Pakistan Navy as PNS-M Khalid in September 1999. The second PNS-M Saad partially built at PN Dockyard was commissioned in December 2003, while third Hamza entirely constructed at PN Dockyard by utilising indigenous resources and technical expertise.
The ceremony was attended by the governor and the chief minister of Sindh, defence minister, diplomats, serving and retired military officers, and civil dignitaries.