China on Saturday handed over two maritime patrol vessels to Pakistani Navy for joint patrolling of sea routes passing through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), according to a report published in the Karachi based newspaper Dawn.

The Dawn claimed that the two Chinese ships, PMSS Hingol and PMSS Basol, have been officially handed over to the commander of the Pakistan Navy Vice-Admiral Arifullah Hussaini.

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"The ships have become part of the Pakistan Navy from today and the (Pakistan) navy would become stronger with the induction of these maritime vessels," Hussaini was quoted saying.  

The Chinese government is now likely to transfer two more ships to Islamabad very soon, with reports suggesting that the work over them has already started. The names of these two ships are reportedly "Dasht" and "Zhob."

The Nawaz Shariff government is leaving nothing to chance to protect the multi-dollar CPEC project, which was partly inaugurated in October last year. It has already created a new division of the army that is completely dedicated in securing the CPEC route and the Gwadar port.    

Pakistan has pinned huge expectations on the CPEC project, claiming that it would change the economic fate of the country. Last year, Prime Minister Nawaz Shariff said that it would prove to be a game changer not only for Pakistan but also for the entire South Asian region.   

In fact, many countries including Iran and Russia have openly expressed their desire to join the ambitious project.  

However, CPEC has been dodged with several controversies and security issues that at times threatened to sabotage the project.  

TagsCPEC, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Pakistan, China and Pakistan, china