Pakistan gifts PNS TARIQ to United Kingdom

Pakistan has gifted the historic lead ship PNS TARIQ to Britain as a goodwill gesture.

According to the Pakistan Navy, the Transfer Agreement Signing Ceremony for the ex-Pakistan Navy Ship TARIQ to Falls of Clyde International 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.

Ex PNS TARIQ was formerly decommissioned by the Pakistan Navy on 4 Aug 2023 and has been gifted by the Government of Pakistan to a UK-based firm Falls of Clyde International that 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.

Speaking on the occasion, Admiral Lord Alan West said that the close relationships between the navies and nations of Pakistan and the UK are 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.

It is pertinent to mention here that this 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 into the 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, ever-ready combat ship.