Commissioning ceremony of first Pakistan Navy MILGEM Ship, PNS BABUR, was held at Istanbul Naval Shipyard, Turkiye. Minister of National Defense Turkiye, Mr. Yaşar Güler, and Defense Minister of Pakistan, Lieutenant General (R) Anwar Ali Hyder, graced the occasion as Chief Guests. Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi also attended the ceremony. 

While addressing on the occasion, Turkish Defense Minister termed the brotherly Pakistan-Turkiye relations as exemplary and acknowledged the potential for further collaboration in the field of defense production. He lauded the efforts and remarkable work done by Istanbul Naval Shipyard and M/s ASFAT (Turkish Firm). He also thanked the Government of Pakistan and Pakistan Navy for exceptional support during the recent devastating earthquakes at Turkiye.
During his address, the Defense Minister of Pakistan admired the collaboration between the Ministry of Defense Production Pakistan, the Ministry of National Defense of Turkiye, M/s ASFAT, and Pakistan Navy for their synergized efforts in making the project a success. He congratulated all teams on the successful commissioning of the 1st MILGEM Ship. He added that the relationship between Pakistan and Turkiye is unique due to the deep-rooted historical ties between the two brotherly countries; hence, cooperation shall continue in the future as well.
Speaking on the occasion, CNS Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi underlined that PN MILGEM Ships, fitted with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, will play a key role in maintaining peace and stability in the region. He expressed his gratitude for enhanced collaboration in defense production, especially in the maritime domain, between the two countries. The Admiral stated that, in line with government policies, the Pakistan Navy has adopted the indigenization of platforms, and hence, it is very satisfying to see modern warships being built in collaboration with the brotherly country, Turkiye.
PN MILGEM Class ships represent the most technologically advanced and state-of-the-art surface platforms under construction for the Pakistan Navy. These ships will be equipped with the latest Command and Control Systems, including modern weapons and sensors. The contract for the construction of four MILGEM Class ships for Pakistan was signed between the Ministry of Defense Production, Pakistan, and M/s ASFAT in 2018. Under the project, two ships are currently under construction at Istanbul Naval Shipyard, while the other two are being built at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works. The ceremony was attended by high-level civilian and military dignitaries from TurK and Pakistan, as well as officials from Istanbul Naval Shipyard.