Opinion

Pak Navy turned a dream into reality

The Financial Daily Desk

Published Nov 11, 2026 · 11:22 PKT · 3 min read

Quick read4 key points · 30 sec

Admiral Naveed Ashraf approved Make-A-Wish Pakistan's request to fulfil 17-year-old Ibad's wish to join the Pakistan Navy and visit a warship.
Dressed in navy uniform, Ibad received an honorary lieutenant badge from Commodore Taimur Niaz Khan and saluted senior naval officers.
Ibad toured PNS Khyber, sat in the captain's chair, and was presented a PNS Khyber cap by Commanding Officer Captain Ali Raza.
PNS Khyber was built in Türkiye in 2025, commissioned into the Pakistan Navy in December 2025, and is equipped with torpedoes and advanced missile systems.

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Make-A-Wish Children's Foundation Pakistan is a nonprofit NGO dedicated to grant the cherish wishes of terminally ill children, thereby bringing hope, joy and unforgettable moments in the last era of their lives. The foundation believes that every child deserves the opportunity to smile, dream, and experience a special moment that their wishes and aspirations matter.

Recently, 17-year-old Ibad, who is suffering from heart disease and undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), shared a his cherish wish with the foundation, to join the Pakistan Navy, wear its iconic white uniform, and visit a Pakistan Navy warship. Considering Ibad's wish and the seriousness of his illness, the foundation approached the Pakistan Navy and requested its assistance in making his dream come true. The Navy responded with wonderful news: Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf had approved the fulfillment of Ibad's wish. On the scheduled day, dressed in a Pakistan Navy uniform, Ibad arrived at the Dockyard accompanied by his parents, myself, and the foundation's team. His excitement and happiness were truly heartwarming.

Commodore Taimur Niaz Khan of the Pakistan Navy's 18th Destroyer Squadron warmly welcomed him. During a dignified ceremony, Ibad was presented with the badge of an honorary Lieutenant of the Pakistan Navy. On the special occasion, Ibad also saluted the senior naval officers present. Following the ceremony, Ibad and the other participants were taken aboard PNS Khyber for a guided tour of the warship.

Equipped with advanced technology, PNS Khyber is an important destroyer of the Pakistan Navy. It was built in 2025 in Türkiye and is the fourth vessel of the Khyber series. The first ship named Khyber was HMS Cadiz, which Pakistan acquired from the British Navy in 1956. It was lost during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War. The second PNS Khyber was USS Brooke, a vessel acquired from the US Navy in 1989 and subsequently commissioned into the Pakistan Navy fleet. However, it was scrapped in 1994. In the same year, the Pakistan Navy acquired the British warship HMS Arrow and inducted it into its fleet. The present PNS Khyber was built in Türkiye in 2025 and commissioned into the Pakistan Navy in December 2025. It is equipped with torpedoes and advanced missile systems.

During the visit, Ibad was taken to the ship's bridge, from where the vessel is operated, and was given the opportunity to sit in the captain's chair. The ship's Commanding Officer, Captain Ali Raza, and his team presented Ibad with a PNS Khyber cap. His happiness at that moment was beyond description. For Ibad, the dream of becoming a naval officer and seeing a warship from close quarters was about much more than simply visiting a vessel. It reflected his deep admiration for courage, discipline, honor, dignity, and patriotism. Standing aboard a Pakistan Navy warship and experiencing firsthand the spirit of serving the country was an immense source of pride and happiness for him. This commendable initiative went far beyond fulfilling the wish of a single child. It demonstrated how kindness, compassion, and collective efforts can bring happiness and hope into the lives of children battling life-threatening diseases.

Since last 20 years, Make-A-Wish Children's Foundation Pakistan has fulfilled the wishes of more than 25,000 children suffering from terminal illnesses, bringing smiles to their faces during the final days of their lives. Many of these children are not among us, but we are happy that they did not leave this world with an unfulfilled wish. Ibad's wish to become a naval officer and visit a warship was certainly a unique one, and the Pakistan Navy fulfilled it in an exceptionally dignified and memorable manner, turning his dream into reality. On behalf of the Foundation, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf, Commodore Taimur Niaz Khan, Captain Ali Raza, and their entire team for their generosity and support.

Holding Ibad's hand while helping him descend the steps of PNS Khyber, dressed in the Navy's white uniform, his radiant face and the warmth of his little hand strengthened my belief that as long as our nation has brave children like Ibad, whose heroes are the men and women of the Pakistan Navy, our country's future remains secure. These naval personnel stand guard day and night, protecting Pakistan's maritime borders, and never hesitate to sacrifice their lives. With such courageous defenders and a generation of children who look up to them as their heroes, no enemy can ever dare to pursue its evil intensions or violate Pakistan's maritime boundaries.