KARACHI, SEPT 7: The MV Heng Tong 77, a container ship stranded at Karachi’s Seaview beach, was freed from the spot on Tuesday and tugged to the port at Keamari for repair work, said Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Maritime Affairs Mahmood Maulvi.

“The ship is still detained till issuance of safety certificates,” he said in a statement to Dawn.com

According to Maulvi, the cargo ship will be inspected and subsequently allowed to float after safety clearance.

The rescue operation for the ship was jointly undertaken by Pakistan Maritime Security Agency, Pakistan Navy and Karachi Port Trust (KPT) teams,

According to the KPT, the cargo ship coming from Shanghai was on its way to Istanbul, Turkey, and did not completely enter the Karachi Harbour, although it was anchored in Pakistani waters awaiting a crew change.

The rough sea caused the vessel to lose its anchors and it started drifting towards shallow water on July 21. The ship was already in shallow water by the time the KPT was informed about the situation.

The KPT then alerted the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PSMA) which couldn’t provide much help as well.

On August 11, the government of Pakistan had detained the container ship, which experts declared “unseaworthy” and a threat to “human life on ship and property”.

“Vessel is not seaworthy due to defective hull & nav equip, weak engine, poor life saving/fire fitting equipment. In this current state it poses a threat to our channel + other vessels well,” The Ministry of Maritime Affairs had said in a statement.

The notice added that the ship would be released after a satisfactory report by the surveyor, urging the captain to arrange for “repair/ maintenance of the hull and equipment”.

The ship, owned by a Hong Kong-based cargo company, is 98 metres in length and 20 metres wide. It was built in 2010 and has a capacity of 3,600 deadweight tonnage.

ISLAMABAD, SEPT 7 (DNA) – On the occasion of Pakistan Defence Day, a function was organized by the Pakistan Cultural Forum at the Punjab Arts Council Rawalpindi to pay tribute to the martyrs & Veterans of the Pakistan Armed Forces.

 Poets, writers and intellectuals from all  walks of life participated in the event. Addressing the function, Chairman Pakistan Cultural Forum Zafar Bakhtawari said that Pakistan Armed Forces is our strength. Scientists and engineers as well as Pakistan Armed Forces have an important role to play in making Pakistan a nuclear power.  The ideology of Allama Iqbal not only gives Armed Forces a new spirit and  the aspirations of a greater Pakistan, but it also shaped their vision , as a result of which today a new Pakistan, a dignified Pakistan, is emerging throughout the region. He further said that The end of Afghan war will establishment regional peace and prosperity through roads and railways connectivity , which will also make  Pakistan a regional power.

He paid homage to the services of Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa and DG ISI General Faiz  Hameed in establishing peace in Afghanistan. He said  on the occasion of Pakistan Defence  and Martyrs’ Day, that we should not only remember the martyrs and veterans  but also their  families in the true sense of the word. We Should also brought their families forward as long as   The mission of the martyrs will not be able to reach its full potential in our society .

 Addressing the writers and poets present at the event, Zafar Bakhtawari said that there are only those  states remembered in the history  which were based on intellect , philosophy and ideology  so we have to bring forward writers, poets and intellectuals to shed light on their thoughts and ideas.  We should  build a society that  respect our civilization and culture throughout the region and has an impact on the world at large.

 Today, the poets who have paid homage to the martyrs and veterans with their  poetry  has done a great job throgh which  an ideal societies can be formed.

 Addressing the function, President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan said that we are fortunate to be breathing in the open air and it is bacuase of our brave army that we are save in   great Pakistan.  He further said that we should remember  our martyrs and veterans  through such events.

 The speeches delivered at today’s event are commendable.

 Speaking on the occasion of Martyrs’ Day, renowned poet and member of finance  CDA Shakeel Jazeb said that we are proud of our martyrs and veterans  through whom we can look at enemy  eye with bravery  .we should keep enlighten about the sacrifices to the nation of martyrs forever. 

 Prominent poets Ali Akbar Abbas, Naseem Sehar, Hassan Abbas Raza, Mehboob Zafar, Rana Saeed Doshi, Dr Junaid Azar and Shahbaz Chauhan also paid homage to the martyrs and veterans  with their poetry on Defence Day Of Pakistan.