KARACHI: A mobile phone application to help maritime communities was launched on Tuesday at a ceremony held at the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) headquarters.

Named AAS (Assistance Anytime Anywhere at Sea), the online application can be used to send emergency signals and location for immediate assistance anytime, anywhere within Pakistan’s territorial waters.

The application is available in Urdu, English, Sindhi and Balochi languages.

“Fishermen communities are an asset for the country gifted with best marine natural resources. One of the PMSA’s top priority areas is to protect and provide assistance to fishermen and their vessels at sea,” said Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Kaleem Shaukat, the chief guest, during his address at the event.

He congratulated the PMSA and the Pakistan Navy for making the software and requested the fishermen communities to cooperate with PMSA and make the best use of the new application.

Earlier, Rear Admiral Zaka-ur-Rehman, the PMSA director general, highlighted the services of the security agency during his welcome address.

“The PMSA being the sole law enforcement agency at sea in the country is responsible for search and rescue operation of an area of 840 NM from Pakistan coast to the deep sea. It round-the-clock maintains maritime rescue coordination centre and disaster response centre to respond to any emergency at sea,” he said.

The newly introduced application would help fishermen facing any problem at sea, he added.

Senior fishery officials from Sindh and Balochistan, representatives of fishing communities and flag officers also attended the programme.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2018