Daily Times

MANILA: A Pakistani Sword-class missile guided frigate, PNS Saif, arrived on Thursday in the Philippines for a four-day goodwill visit.

The warship is anchored off Manila Bay, Philippine Navy spokesman Capt. Lued Lincuna said.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will board the visiting warship for “an exclusive tour” later on Thursday, according to a statement by Duterte’s office at the Malacanang presidential palace.

The Sword-class frigate, also known as the Zulfiquar, is designed for air defense, interdiction and exclusive economic zone patrol, Lincuna said.

He said the ship, equipped with a helicopter on board, is skippered by Capt. Shahzad Iqbal.

Lincuna said the visit “aims to revive and strengthen the Pakistan-Philippines relations.”

Lincuna said a Philippine Navy ship, BRP Rajah Humabon, rendered a customary meeting procedure at the vicinity of Corregidor Island at the mouth of the Manila Bay. The Philippine warship then escorted the visiting vessel to its berthing place.

Lincuna said the visit is the first of its kind by a Pakistani navy ship to the Philippines during the Duterte administration.

“(This is the) first time during this administration but they had previous port calls,” said Lincuna.

Published in Daily Times, December 15^th 2017.