Daily Times

Karachi: Pakistan Navy’s Coastal Command Annual Efficiency Competition Parade was held today at PNS QASIM, Manora. Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Kaleem Shaukat was chief guest of the ceremony.

Efficiency Competition Parade is conducted annually by Coastal Command of Pakistan Navy to mark the achievements of its operational year wherein efficiency shields are awarded to the selected units based on their achievements throughout the year.

While addressing the Officers and CPOs, Sailors, the chief guest highlighted that Coastal Command of Pakistan Navy has been entrusted with the onerous task of safeguarding the Coastal Areas from Sir Creek to Jiwani, under the challenging internal and external security situation. The Admiral further said that Pakistan Navy’s Coastal Command is fully geared up for the challenges of CPEC and operationalisation of Gwadar Port.

While taking stock of the overall security situation, Vice Admiral Kaleem Shaukat highlighted that Pakistan Navy is fully aware of the external as well as internal threats the country is faced with. He said that as a result of untiring collective efforts of the nation during last many years, Pakistan has been able to eradicate the menace of terrorism to a greater extent. This effort, however, requires constant struggle and Pakistan Navy is ready to defend the motherland from all external and internal threats at all cost.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Commander Coast Rear Admiral Moazzam Ilyas highlighted the operational achievements of Coastal Command and presented the resume of activities undertaken during the year 2017. He said that Coastal Command besides operational activities, had actively participated in several major exercises including AMAN 2017, BURQ-VII, Tahafuz-E-Sahil, Joint Exercises with International Special Forces Difa-E-Sahil and Air Defence Guns Firing.

Later the chief guest gave away efficiency shields to the units for their overall best performance during the year 2017. The ceremony was attended by a large number of senior naval officers, CPOs and sailors.

Published in Daily Times, January 13^th 2018.