Pakistan indigenously builds air defence missile carriers

Islamabad, Dec 2 (UNI) Chairman of Pakistan's Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Ehsan Ul Haq has handed over indigenously built air defence missile carriers to the four army regiments.

''The government is determined to provide a credible defence with all possible means at its disposal,'' Haq said yesterday while speaking at the handing-over ceremony at the Heavy Industries.

He said the government was giving high priority to the operational preparedness of the armed forces and the Armed Forces Development Plan (AFDP) was a step in this direction.

He stressed that rapid mobility with armour protection and integral air defence elements were the key areas of modernisation of the Pakistan Army.

He said development of missile carriers represented a milestone in the country's indigenous weapons' capability.

''Self-reliance especially in the field of defence is a reflection of our national policy,'' Hag said.

He added with the induction of this first batch of air defence missile carriers, the country's air defence capability would be further augmented.

UNI XC SY DS1405