Speech at the launching ceremony of “Lalazar” at the Karachi Shipyard on March 20, 1973

President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto announced that the personal of the Karachi Shipyard would receive reward money at the scale of 20 days pay to officers and 45 days pay to workers. Supervisory staff and other. This would cost the Shipyard an amount of Rupees 17 lakh 63 thousand, of this, Rs. 95 thousand will go to the officers and Rs. 16 lakh 68 thousand to the workers and supervisory staff.

The President further announced that the National shipping Corporation would be contributing Rs. 25 thousand while an equal amount will be contributed by the Karachi Shipyard to the Karachi Shipyard workers and salaried staff welfare fund, he said that the Governor of Sind, Begum Liaquat Ali Khan would contribute on behalf of the Sind Government Rs. 25 thousand while the Communications Minister on behalf of the Ministry will contribute Rs. 25 thousand to this fund, the President himself announced a donation of Rs. 50 thousand to the fund.

After the speech, the President cut the red ribbon heralding the launching of the Ship into the sea. As soon as he cut the tape, a bottle filled with rose water was broken on the ship in keeping with maritime traditions.