Karachi: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday announced worth Rs100 million appreciation amount for the workers of the PNS Badr – the third Pakistan Navy MILGEM class corvette which was built at the Karachi Shipyard as part of the joint defence cooperation between Pakistan and Turkey – and lauded them for their efforts that was also continued in the coronavirus pandemic when the most parts of the world were at standstill.

“This is yet another great example of cooperation between Turkey and Pakistan under the leadership of Tayyip Erdogan, who is not just a great brother but also a great supporter of Pakistan’s cause,” says PM Shehbaz Sharif at the launching ceremony of PNS Badr, the third Pakistan Navy MILGEM class corvette, at the Karachi Shipyard.

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar and Chief of the Naval Staff Amjad Khan Niazi were also present. As part of the bilateral partnership between Pakistan and Turkey, two ships each will be constructed in both countries. The launch of the first ship PNS Babr was held in August in Turkey last year.

Water Resources Minister Khursheed Shah and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Public Policy and Strategic Communications Fahd Hussain are accompanying the PM.

He lauded the collaboration between a Turkish company and the Karachi Shipyard over the construction of MILGEM.

“From foreign policy to shipbuilding, from transportation to public health, all these great initiatives are being examined and witnessed by both people,” he said, “we are at a stage where we can take these ties to a new level and mutual benefit.”

He viewed the cooperation as further leading to strengthening relations between Pakistan Navy and the Turkish company. He termed the construction of the ship as a “success story” that was completed despite the Covid-19 pandemic and hailed the officers and workers for their efforts in building it.

The premier proposed to make China-Pakistan Economic Corridor a trilateral engagement by including Turkey in it and called for taking benefit of the opportunity, which connects Pakistan to regional countries.

“And I believe, Turkey and Pakistan are one nation living in two countries,” he said and mentioned the pre-partition movement linking to Turkey’s independence.

The premier, who last week decided against taking the “difficult decision” of increasing petrol prices, will meet traders and the PML-N leadership in Karachi. The huddle would discuss the next budget and the prevailing economic situation. The metropolitan city of Sindh is home to a port, the Pakistan Stock Exchange, and a wholesale market that is worth billions.

For the first time in the country’s history, on Thursday, the Pakistani rupee dropped to Rs200 against the US dollar during intra-day trading as the lack of clarity on both economic and political fronts continued despite the resumption of talks between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Pakistani authorities.

The government on Thursday imposed a ban on the import of luxury items as part of its efforts to strengthen the economy. Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said that luxury imported items, including vehicles, mobile phones, home appliances, dry and fresh fruits, crockery, private weapons, decoration items, preserved and frozen food items, sanitary, doors and windows, beauty and confectionary items.

“My decision to ban the import of luxury items will save the country precious foreign exchange. We will practice austerity & financially stronger people must lead in this effort so that the less privileged among us do not have to bear this burden inflicted on them by the PTI govt,” PM Shehbaz said in a tweet.