KARACHI: The opening brief of Exercise Sea Guard-25 was conducted under the auspices of Pakistan Navy at PNS Jauhar here on Monday.

Exercise Sea Guard is a Pakistan Navy initiative. This is the second edition of this exercise, with the first one happening only last year.

It aims at bringing together representatives from Pakistan’s diverse maritime sectors including shipping, the fisheries, law enforcement agencies, private entities and NGOs, on one platform to collectively address the multifaceted challenges in the maritime domain.

Some of them are the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency, Pakistan Coast Guards, Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, Anti-Narcotics Force, Federal Investigation Agency, Inter-Services Intelligence, Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control, Ministry of Food Security and Research, Karachi Port Trust, Port Qasim Authority and Gwadar Port.

During the opening brief, the 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. It operates 24/7, serving as Pakistan’s maritime nerve centre for ensuring maritime security and safety.

Under a cohesive framework, Sea Guard 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 to be able to stand up against all threats. It includes a series of practical scenario-based exercises at sea, along with table-top discussions to refine and improve existing security mechanisms.

Finally, Commander Coast Rear Admiral Faisal Amin, the chief guest on the occasion, highlighted the many achievements of JMICC between 2024, when Exercise Sea Guard was first held and now in 2025 when it is going to be held for a second time. Through intelligence-based information, they have made many raids and caught the trafficking of narcotics. They have also saved 60 lives at sea in 33 rescue operations.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2025