Pakistan’s newly commissioned warship visits Saudi Arabia on maiden voyage

The screengrab taken from a video posted by the Pakistan Navy on August 10, 2024, shows Pakistan’s newly commissioned warship, PNS Hunain. (Pakistan Navy/X)
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Updated 09 September 2024
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Pakistan’s newly commissioned warship visits Saudi Arabia on maiden voyage

  • PNS Hunain is equipped with electronic warfare systems and designed for multi-purpose operations
  • The navy regularly participates in bilateral and multilateral exercises for collective maritime security

ISLAMABAD: A newly commissioned Pakistani warship, PNS Hunain, visited Jeddah on its first international voyage and conducted a bilateral exercise with the kingdom’s naval forces, Pakistan’s diplomatic mission in Saudi Arabia said on Sunday.

PNS Hunain, an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), was commissioned into the Pakistan Navy in July this year during a ceremony held at Constanta Port in Romania.

The vessel is equipped with advanced electronic warfare systems and is designed for multi-purpose operations, including anti-ship and anti-air warfare.

It also supports search and rescue missions, maritime security operations and can embark helicopters for extended operations.

“The newly commissioned PNS Hunain visited #Jeddah on its maiden voyage,” the Pakistan Embassy in Riyadh informed in a social media post. “Also conducted bilateral exercise with #RSNF Ship Al Riyadh.”

The Pakistan Navy regularly participates in both bilateral and multilateral exercises, particularly with regional countries, to enhance interoperability and ensure collective maritime security.

It is also actively involved in addressing non-traditional threats such as piracy, contributing to the safe passage of trade through critical sea lanes, particularly in the Indian Ocean.


Pakistan, Oman navies discuss maritime security, ink agreement to share shipping data

Updated 24 December 2025
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Pakistan, Oman navies discuss maritime security, ink agreement to share shipping data

  • Visiting Oman royal navy commander calls on Pakistan Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf in Islamabad
  • White shipping agreement refers to exchange of prior information on movement of commercial ships

ISLAMABAD: The naval commanders of Pakistan and Oman discussed regional maritime security on Wednesday and signed an agreement to share shipping information with each other, the Pakistan Navy said in a statement.

The press release followed a meeting between Pakistan Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf and the visiting Oman Royal Navy Commander Rear Admiral Saif Bin Nasser Bin Mohsin Al Rahbi at Naval Headquarters in Islamabad.

Both navies maintain close professional relations, reflected in expert-level staff talks, joint training, bilateral exercises, and participation in multilateral exercises between the Pakistan Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman.

“During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional maritime security and bilateral naval cooperation were discussed,” the Pakistan Navy said.

The MoU was signed by both sides at a ceremony at the Naval Headquarters, the navy’s media wing confirmed. 

“The MoU is aimed at establishing of guidelines and procedures for information sharing in order to enhance mutual awareness of white shipping,” the Pakistan Navy said in a statement. 

White shipping agreement refers to the exchange of prior information on the movement and identity of commercial non-military merchant vessels.

Information regarding the identity of vessels helps countries tackle potential threats from sea routes. This particularly helps in the development of a proper regional maritime domain awareness

The statement said Al Rahbi lauded Pakistan Navy’s professionalism and acknowledged its ongoing contributions to maritime security and regional stability.

Pakistan and Oman share geographical proximity and common maritime boundaries. Bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries span a wide range of areas, including economic cooperation, people-to-people contacts and strong defense ties.

In December, a Royal Navy flotilla from Oman visited Karachi to take part in the annual bilateral Thamar Al Tayyib (TAT) 2025 exercise. 

Pakistan Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman have been conducting the TAT series of exercises regularly since 1980.