Pakistan Navy commissioned its Milgem-class corvette PNS Khaibar at Istanbul Naval Shipyard, marking a key milestone in defence cooperation with Turkiye. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the ceremony as the chief guest and called for stronger collaboration in defence production between the two countries.
PNS Khaibar is the second of four Milgem-class corvettes being built for Pakistan under a 2018 contract with Turkish state-owned defence firm ASFAT. Under the agreement, two ships are being constructed in Turkiye, while the remaining two are being built in Pakistan.
#ISPR
Rawalpindi, 21 December, 2025
The commissioning ceremony of 2nd #Pakistan Navy MILGEM class ship PNS KHAIBAR was held at Istanbul Naval Shipyard, #Türkiye. The President of Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, graced the occasion as Chief Guest. Admiral Naveed… pic.twitter.com/Q13wa2mBQ2
— Pakistan Armed Forces News 🇵🇰 (@PakistanFauj) December 21, 2025According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, the commissioning of PNS Khaibar completes the construction of both ships assigned to Turkiye. The military’s media wing described the development as a major achievement in bilateral naval cooperation.
President Erdogan, while addressing the ceremony, termed Pakistan–Turkiye relations as exemplary. He stressed the need further to strengthen defence production ties in the coming years.
Strengthening Pakistan–Turkiye Naval Ties
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf also addressed the ceremony and praised ASFAT, Istanbul Naval Shipyard, and the original equipment manufacturers involved in the project. He acknowledged their role in the planning, design, and construction of the Milgem-class ships.
Read: Pakistan Navy Launches Fourth Hangor-Class Submarine PNS Ghazi
Admiral Ashraf highlighted the growing partnership between the Pakistan Navy and Turkish Naval Forces. He said sustained bilateral engagement continues to enhance defence collaboration and reflects the depth of the strategic relationship.
Following the ceremony, President Erdogan visited PNS Khaibar, where he received a guard of honour and met the ship’s crew. Admiral Ashraf also exchanged views with Turkish officials on regional maritime security and discussed future joint initiatives.
ISPR stated that Milgem-class ships are the most technologically advanced surface platforms in the Pakistan Navy fleet. These vessels feature modern command-and-control systems, advanced sensors, and integrated weapons, significantly enhancing maritime defence capability.
