Australian High Commission
Islamabad
Pakistan

Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Toowoomba

AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION
ISLAMABAD

Press Release 
Visit to Pakistan by Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Toowoomba

Royal Australian Navy (RAN) frigate, HMAS Toowoomba, currently serving in the Middle East Area of Operations, has completed a three day visit to Karachi to develop cooperation and promote understanding and friendship between the two Navies.

The Commanding Officer of HMAS Toowoomba, CMDR Ivan Ingham, called on the Commander Pakistan Fleet (COMPAK), Admiral Asif Sandila, at Fleet Headquarters where COMPAK expressed his appreciation to the RAN and HMAS Toowoomba for visiting Karachi.

After the meeting, Commanding Officer of the HMAS Toowoomba, CMDR Ingham said, “the busy program of activities put together for our visit included many opportunities for the Pakistan Navy and the RAN to work together to increase understanding of each other’s Navies and develop joint training opportunities.”

Representatives from HMAS Toowoomba also paid their respects and laid wreaths at the Tomb of Quaid-e-Azam, and at the Karachi War Cemetery to commemorate fallen Australian servicemen who died in Pakistan in World War I and II. Volunteers from HMAS Toowoomba also hosted a charity event for 40 disadvantaged children and their teachers from the Family Educational Services Foundation, who spent an afternoon on board the Australian warship. The HMAS Toowoomba crew also lost their cricket match against the Pakistan Navy.

The visit of the HMAS Toowoomba highlights the strengthening defence relationship between Australia and Pakistan, and builds on the recent visit to Pakistan by the Australian Chief of Air Force, the visit of HMAS Warramunga to Karachi in March 2009, and the recent announcement by the Australia Defence Minister to increase the number of Pakistani officers studying in Australia per year from 10 to more than 70.

Contact: Mr James McGarry – 051 835 5500

18 August 2009