A 10-member delegation of National Assembly Standing Committee on Defence, headed by Shaikh Rohale Asghar, undertook a three-day visit to facilities and installations of Pakistan Navy at Karachi and coastal areas. At Karachi the delegation visited Pakistan Navy Dockyard, Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works and Headquarters Pakistan Maritime Security Agency.
During the visit, briefings were given to the Committee on the emerging contemporary challenges in the region, Pakistan Navy's role in safeguarding the country's maritime interests and role/tasks of various PN Commands. The Committee was also briefed on the ship and submarine repair capabilities and indigenization programmes of Pakistan Navy.
Later, the Committee undertook detailed visit of Jinnah Naval Base at Ormara, where they were briefed on various developmental projects. Besides, the Committee was also briefed on Pakistan Navy's contributions towards nation building through initiatives for special empowerment of coastal communities residing along the Makran Coastal belt. During visit of the Cadet College Ormara, where 50 percent of the cadets are from Balochistan whose education is free, the Committee members were apprised about the quality education and training being provided to the Cadets. Similarly, during the visit of 100-bed hospital PNS DARMAAN JAH, the Committee was briefed about the quality health care facilities afforded to the local population in addition to PN personnel.
Later, the committee visited Gwadar port where it was briefed on the importance of Gwadar port for the CPEC project and the effective measures PN has taken for the maritime security of the port and its seaward approaches. The Committee also witnessed the exercises of Pakistan Navy at sea off Gwadar onboard PN Ship Zulfiqar. On the occasion, the Chairman National Assembly Standing Committee on Defence showed satisfaction over the operational preparedness of PN for protection of CPEC and Gwadar port projects. The Committee assured its full support to PN for its future developmental plans in order to safeguard maritime interests of Pakistan in the Indian Ocean Region.