HMAS Parramatta has helped build ties with the Pakistan Navy and local residents after conducting a three-day visit to the port of Karachi in late February.
The Karachi visit represented an important regional engagement and was focused on enhancing ties through knowledge sharing opportunities with the Pakistan Navy, community service and social engagements.
Parramatta ’s Commanding Officer, Commander Guy Blackburn , said the visit was an important one.
“The Australia-Pakistan partnership goes back a long way and this visit reinforces the strength in that partnership and in our common goal in maintaining peace and security in the region,” CMDR Blackburn said.
The three-day visit to Karachi included information exchange and discussion forums with the Pakistan Navy on weapons maintenance and certification, operations room procedures, counter piracy operations and other matters.
The forums were the centrepiece for knowledge sharing to enhance interoperability between the Navies as members of the Combined Maritime Forces.
Parramatta ’s Ship’s Company visited the Special Children School Karsaz to lend support to the Pakistani staff and students whose efforts helped provide independence for many children with disabilities.
In what was a moving encounter, the men and women of Parramatta ’s were touched by the courage of the children in overcoming their disabilities.
Parramatta also hosted a visit by 45 children from the Deaf Reach School. The children were from extremely poor families and teachers said the tour would be a highlight of their year.
The Australian-Pakistani friendship was also further enhanced on the sporting field. Parramatta ’s Ship’s Company fielded a team for cricket as well as squash players and golfers. The Anzac Class Frigate’s cricket team was gallant but chasing a target of 201 runs off 20 over’s proved too much for the Australians.
Parramatta is currently returning from the ship’s fourth deployment to the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) as part of Operation SLIPPER.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff , March 07, 2012; Image: navy