FOCI
ISLAMABAD: The Transfer Agreement Signing Ceremony for the ex-Pakistan Navy Ship TARIQ to Falls of Clyde International (FOCI) of the United Kingdom was organized at the Pakistan High Commission in London.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi graced the ceremony as Chief Guest. Former First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff Royal British Navy, Admiral Lord Alan West attended the ceremony as Guest of Honour.
Pakistan Navy discarded the PNS Tariq as the warship and decommissioned it on August 4, 2023. The ex-PNS Tariq has been gifted by the Government of Pakistan to a UK-based firm, Falls of Clyde International (FOCI). The firm plans to convert the ship into a floating museum.
The ship will be on static display at Clyde Maritime Heritage Centre in Glasgow as a symbol of the common naval heritage of the Royal and Pakistan navies. How can the Pakistan Navy or government gift an ex-warship (PNS Tariq) to a firm based in the UK? Pakistan Navy did not mention it in its press statement issued on Tuesday evening.
However, speaking on the occasion, Admiral Lord Alan West said that the close relationship between the navies and nations of Pakistan and the UK is clearly shown by the historic agreement focused on one ship that served both countries over many years.
While addressing the ceremony, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi acknowledged the meritorious services of PNS TARIQ for the
defence of Pakistan. The Chief Guest hoped that handing over TARIQ to FOCI would further strengthen the bonds of friendship between the UK and Pakistan as the ship will continue to symbolize the shared maritime heritage of both navies in times to come.
The historical ship served in the Royal Navy as HMS AMBUSCADE for 18 years
and participated in the Falklands War before being inducted and re-commissioned in
Pakistan Navy as PNS TARIQ in 1993. The ship served for over 3 decades in PN &
distinguished herself on many operational deployments, earning the reputation of a
versatile, agile and ever-ready combat ship. The ship was famously involved in the Search and Rescue mission in Maldives during the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2005 which helped save precious lives of 377 tourists belonging to various nationalities.
The High Commissioner of Pakistan to the UK H.E. Dr Mohammad Faisal hosted the ceremony. Director FOCI, Mr David O’Neill, veterans from the Royal Navy and representatives of the Pakistani community in the UK attended the event.
