The Pakistan Navy has formally commissioned its Milgem-class corvette PNS Khaibar during a ceremony held at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard, reflecting the growing defence partnership between Pakistan and Türkiye.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the event as the chief guest and emphasised the importance of expanding bilateral cooperation in defence manufacturing. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf was also present on the occasion.
PNS Khaibar is the second vessel of the four Milgem-class corvettes being acquired under an agreement signed in 2018 with ASFAT Inc, a state-owned Turkish defence company. Under the project, two ships were constructed in Türkiye, while the remaining two are currently under construction in Pakistan. With the induction of PNS Khaibar, the construction phase of the ships being built in Türkiye has been successfully completed.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), President Erdoğan described the Pakistan–Türkiye relationship as strong and fraternal, and reiterated the need to further enhance cooperation in defence production.
Addressing the ceremony, Admiral Naveed Ashraf appreciated the contributions of ASFAT, Istanbul Naval Shipyard, and the original equipment manufacturers involved in the design and construction of the Milgem vessels. He also highlighted the strengthening ties between the Pakistan Navy and Turkish Naval Forces, noting that continued bilateral engagement plays a vital role in reinforcing defence collaboration between the two countries.
Following the commissioning, President Erdoğan toured the ship, where he was accorded a guard of honour and met members of the crew. The naval chief also held discussions on regional maritime security and explored future opportunities for joint Pakistan Navy–Turkish Naval Forces initiatives.
The ISPR stated that the Milgem-class ships represent some of the most advanced surface combat platforms in the Pakistan Navy, featuring modern command and control systems, advanced sensors, and contemporary weapon suites.