In times of natural disasters and other catastrophes, the officers and men of the Pakistan Navy have been rendering exemplary services both in the country and abroad. These fine attributes of mobility were at their best when Pakistan Navy Ships and Helicopters reached out to the helpless souls of the fateful Tsunami, stranded in and around the coasts of Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia. The conduct of Operation Umeed-e-Nau for evacuation of MV SUEZ crew and their safe transit to Pakistan is another tale of tenacity and resolve demonstrated by the Pakistan Navy.
Living up to the traditions of serving the humanity, Pakistan Navy was again at the forefront in rendering humanitarian assistance for evacuation of Pakistani and foreign nationals stranded at Yemen. Pakistan Navy Ships ASLAT and SHAMSHEER successfully evacuated a large number of stranded Pakistani and foreign nationals from Yemeni Ports of Ash Shihr and Al-Hudaydah.
Pakistan Navy Ship SHAMSHEER successfully evacuated 63 Pakistani and Foreign nationals from Al-Hudaydah twice and disembarked them at Djibouti and Jazan in Saudi Arabia. In addition Pakistan Navy Ship ASLAT successfully evacuated 146 Pakistanis and 36 foreign nationals (08 Chinese, 11 Indians, 05 Filipinos, 04 British, 03 Indonesians, 02 Syrians and one each from Canada, Egypt and Jordan) from the Yemeni Port of Ash Shihr to Karachi. Upon arrival at Karachi Port on 7 Apr 15, all evacuees were successfully returned to their respective hometowns and countries.
Mr. Ralf Luthe, a Canadian national and a petroleum engineer by profession has formally expressed his gratitude, greetings and courtesy on behalf of all foreign nationals and co-workers of his company PetroMasila, over the highest standards of hospitality, care and attention accorded by the Pakistan Navy Ship Command and crew members during their stay onboard PN Ship ASLAT. A letter written to the Pakistani High Commissioner at Canada speaks volume of his sentiments, the cherishing memoirs and compliments for Pakistan in general and Pakistan Navy in particular.
Similar expressions of gratitude and compliments from the Indonesian Naval Chief Admiral Ade Supandi, S.E on behalf of Indonesian evacuees, from the British High Commissioner Mr. Philip Barton CMG OBE on behalf of British evacuees, from the Jordanian Honorary Consul in Pakistan Mr. Yusuf Farrukh on behalf of Jordanian evacuee, and from the Canadian High Commissioner Mr. Heather Cruden and Canadian Defence Advisor in Pakistan; Colonel Kenneth O’Brien, on behalf of Canadian evacuees have been conveyed to Chief of the Naval Staff through letters.
The Chinese President, Mr. Xi Jinping, during his recent visit to Pakistan, while addressing joint session of Parliament warmly acknowledged Pakistan Navy’s humanitarian assistance rendered especially for the rescue of Chinese citizens/students by saying “The Pakistani Commander of the Ship gave the order that we will not leave until all the Chinese students are onboard. This again shows that Pakistan China friendship is indeed deeper than the oceans.”
Pakistan Navy greatly values these expressions and gestures of goodwill as a tribute to the nation, which will go a long way in strengthening the bilateral ties and reinforcing fraternal bondage between the countries in general and Navies in particular.
Besides safeguarding the maritime interests of Pakistan, Pakistan Navy had always been at the forefront during international and domestic humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. The resolve and commitment of Pakistan Navy for rendering humanitarian assistance shall continue in future as well.
