KARACHI: Pakistan Navy on Monday launched the ‘Sea Guard-25’ maritime security exercise in the country’s southern port city of Karachi, aimed at addressing challenges in the maritime sector and enhancing coordination among national stakeholders, a Pakistan Navy statement said.
The second in its series, Exercise Sea Guard is a Pakistan Navy initiative aimed at bringing together representatives from the country’s diverse maritime sectors, including shipping, fisheries, law enforcement agencies, private entities, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) under one platform to collectively address multifaceted challenges in the maritime domain, said a news release of Directorate General Public Relations Pakistan Navy.
“During the opening brief, participants were apprised of the aims and objectives of Exercise Sea Guard, as well as the critical role of the Joint Maritime Information Coordination Centre (JMICC) in ensuring maritime safety and security along Pakistan’s coastline,” the statement said.
It added that the exercise seeks to enhance coordination among national stakeholders while operating within their respective legal frameworks, using JMICC as a common platform to strengthen the security of Pakistan’s maritime zones.
“It includes a series of practical scenario-based exercises at sea, along with table-top discussions, to refine and improve existing security mechanisms,” it said.
Representatives from sectors such as Pakistan Maritime Security Agency, Pakistan National Coast Guards, Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, Anti-Narcotics Force, Federal Investigation Agency, Karachi Port Trust, and Port Qasim Authority attended the event as well.
Commander Coast, Rear Admiral Faisal Amin acknowledged all the national stakeholders for their efforts to promote a safer maritime environment.
Pakistan regularly conducts drills in Karachi, which is home to important naval bases and holds a strategic position along the Arabian Sea, crucial for protecting the nation’s territorial waters.
Earlier this month, the ninth Multinational Maritime Exercise Aman-25 with the participation from 60 nations.
Additionally, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia carried out their annual Affaa Al Sahil naval exercise in Karachi in February.
