Pakistan rejects reports about obtaining French submarines

Islamabad, Aug.30 (ANI): Pakistan has rejected reports about purchase of submarines from France.

Briefing Senate's Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production, Defence Production Secretary, Israr Ghumman said an evaluation committee formed by the Naval Headquarters has recommended purchase of German submarines.

Ghumman clarified that the government has not inked any agreement with France regarding the purchase of submarines as was being reported in the media.

Senator Raja Zafarul Haq said the committee was informed that several foreign submarine manufacturing companies had put up their bid to provide submarines to the Pakistan Navy, but the German submarines were preferred by the Navy on the basis of their technological superiority and cost.

He said the committee is following the submarine purchase minutely.

"The committee was following the purchase of submarines and if anybody was found involved in receiving kickbacks he would be exposed to the media," The Dawn quoted Haq, as saying.

The committee also sought continuity of safeguards for the Pakistan Ordnance Factories, Heavy Mechanical Industries and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, which were authorized through the 17th Constitutional Amendment. (ANI)