Islamabad: Pakistan is in talks with China to acquire F-22 frigates in order to gain "credible combat power" and has finalised contracts to build guided missile boats, its Naval Chief, Admiral Shahid Karimullah, has said.

The talks are underway and very soon these "latest state-of-the-art ships" would be flying Pakistani flag, he told a meeting of Naval officials on November 12, APP new agency reported.

He said that Pakistan Navy actively pursued the proposal to acquire F-22 Frigates from China as the government here has approved to carry out negotiations.

Karimullah, however, did not disclose the number of ships Pakistan would be acquiring.

It was not yet announced here whether the Pakistan Navy proposed to buy them or acquire them on lease.

Admiral Karimullah also said that the contract for the construction of guided missile boats has also been concluded.

The report however did not mention the country to which the contracts have been given.

The acquisition of these missile boats and ships equipped with latest guided missiles would enhance the strike capability of Pakistan Navy manifold, the Naval Chief said.

"We are also pursuing a number of up-gradation and modernisation programmes both through utilising our local expertise and foreign assistance in order to fulfil the demands of fleet," he said.

PTI