After nuclear reactor deal, Pak now eyeing joint construction of Chinese submarines

BEIJING - Pakistan has identified joint construction of submarines with China as one of areas which Islamabad would now like to explore, Pakistan Navy Chief Admiral Noman Bashir said.

“We have the history of cooperation in the Navy with China like we have cooperation in all other fields. We will not stop here and this cooperation will continue,” The Nation quoted Bashir, as saying.

“Obviously we will have the ships and submarines which will be according to our requirements and specifications,” he added.

The Navy Chief also said that the ships would be bigger than the current F-22 P frigates.

“There is lot of discussion that are taking place,” he added.

Pakistan and China have already finalised a nuclear deal, in which Chinese companies would be assisting Islamabad to construct at least two new 650-megawatt reactors at Chashma in Punjab province.

China has also delivered three F-22P frigates to Pakistan, which are equipped with modern weapons and sensors.

The frigates are armed with surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles built by Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard of Shanghai. (ANI)