‘Pakistan Navy set to strengthen coastal defence’

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Navy is set to increase the strength of Pak Marines in the years to come to give boost to defence of Creek areas, Gwadar Port and other vital installations. “We will leave no stone unreturned for solid protection our coastline and CPEC corridor in our Area of Responsibility (AoR),” a senior officer of Pakistan Navy, who commands Pak Marines, while talking to a media team during its visit to a forward post in Sir Creek area said. The media team was informed that Pak Marines were fully prepared to thwart any misadventure from the enemy. “Rest assured, the enemy cannot even think of getting close to our territory,” Commodore Shahid said.

The media team was taken to a forward post of Pakistan Navy located a few nautical miles being manned by officers and personnel of Pak Marines. “As we have the complete resolve to defend our territory, we are also equipped with all kinds of weapons ready to use in case of any misadventure,” the officer said.

The media team riding speed boats travelled with speed of over 30 nautical miles (over 60 kilometers per hour). They were also taken to Sir Creek area. It was perhaps the first visit of media arranged by Pakistan Navy to any forward location in Sir Creek which is over 25 nautical miles from Shah Bandr.

Pak Marines have six battalions, are ever vigilant to deter aggression, thwart traditional and non-traditional threats along coast with emphasis on defence of the Creeks AoR, provide Ground Based Air Defence to the assigned National and PN strategic installations and undertake Special Operations, Security and defence to all Port and Harbours.

In order to provide seamless security to coastal strategic installations including Maritime components of CPEC and Gwadar Port and Creeks Area, the onus has been entrusted upon Pak Marines, who perform the duties at critical areas of creeks under very harsh topographic environment comprising marshes, swamps and unpredictable waterways. Their motivation, dedication and selfless devotion to sacred duty have no parallel.

Pak Marines have also established Joint Marines Information Coordination Center (JMICC) in Manora having close coordination of 48 stakeholders and some regional countries to check and avert any kind of illegal activities in its AoR.

Pakistan occupies an important geostrategic location at the confluence of three regions. Especially the port of Gwadar offers not only economic benefits but strategic leverage due to its proximity to the Gulf but it can only be gainfully exploited through the development of our maritime sector and ensuring its security.

The Navy officers who met media team said that as defenders of Maritime Frontiers of Motherland Pakistan Navy is fully cognizant of the challenges and maintains the highest level of Operational Preparedness to deal with the complete spectrum of threat stretching from non-traditional and sub-conventional challenges to high end conventional war. “The strategy to meet these challenges and effectively contribute in development of Pakistan's maritime sector, anchors on three pillars,” an officer accompanying the team said.

Pak Marines comprises six battalions, are ever vigilant to deter aggression; thwart traditional and non-traditional threats along coast with emphasis on defence of the Creeks AoR, provide Ground Based Air Defense to the assigned National and PN strategic installations and undertake Special Operations, Security and defence to all Port and Harbours.

Pak Marines’ rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts during and after natural calamities also form a long list. Some of them include cyclone in creeks area 1999, Tsunami in Sri Lanka and Indonesia, earthquake in Pakistan in 2005, Cyclone Phet and flood in 2010, floods of 2010 and 2011 and floods of 2015 & 2016. Pak Marines have also focused on health and education of the people of Thatta/Sujawal. As regards to health, establishment of free Medical Camps has been a regular feature. Through these Camps, better health care facilities are afforded to the poor masses of the area. Pakistan Navy doctors are employed in these camps while medicines are provided free of charge.

Pak Marines is contributing in development of safe maritime sector by educating fisherman about border areas, permissible fishing nets, environmental issues on cutting of mangroves and providing security against Indian threat are worth mentioning. Medical assistance is being provided free of cost by Pak Navy doctors to fishermen in Creeks AoR. Plantation of mangroves is being carried out by Creek Bde on vast scale. A total of approx. 0.2 million mangroves have been planted till to date. Pakistan Petroleum Limited is working in AoR for exploration oil and gas reservoirs, Pak Marines are extending their support to PPL in AoR in the form of security cover against internal and external threats.

Pak Marines have put in great efforts for running of three schools in PN Model Village, Chuhar Jamali and Keti Bandar. Regular visits of Bde teams are being carried out in educational institutions for educational awareness. Quranic centre at Sujawal and Bahria Model School at Gharo has been established. Admissions to students from under privileged class are being provided, free of cost.

Future projects under consideration of Pak Marines are Establishment of Cadet College Sujawal, Establishment of Bahria Model School at Sujawal, Establishment of Bahria College and Quranic Centre at Gharo, increase in mangroves plantation to one million mangroves per year etc.

Pakistan Navy, a combat ready multi-dimensional force manned by highly motivated professionals has unflinching resolve to defend and safeguard maritime frontiers and national maritime interests. Besides, Pakistan Navy is also spearheading various initiatives for socio-economic uplift of Baloch populace along the Makran Coast.