ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has inaugurated a newly-established main operational base — Base Bholari, located in northeast of Karachi in Thatta district of Sindh.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman said the establishment of PAF Base Bholari would play a key role in safeguarding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Project (CPEC).

He said the PAF Base Bholari is a project of strategic significance for PAF’s capacity enhancement, both over land as well as at sea.

With its establishment, the PAF would be able to support the land operations of Pakistan Army more efficiently.

More so, the new base would also augment and supplement the very important maritime operations carried out by the Pakistan Navy.

Besides providing an aerial defence to the motherland, the air chief said the base would also play a key role in the socio-economic uplift of the adjoining areas by providing state of the art health services, quality education and employment to the locals.

Four F-16 aircraft presented a fly past to welcome the guests, including Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah who attended the ceremony as the guest of honour.

It was also attended by principal staff officers of the PAF, senior officers of armed forces and a large number of dignitaries from the government.

The air chief said that the protection of the game-changer CPEC is the top priority of all forces of Pakistan, which it will change not only Pakistan but also the region.