Karachi : The Pakistan Navy’s inaugural maritime security exercise, SEA GUARD-24, concluded with a debriefing session. Vice Admiral Ovais Ahmed Bilgrami, Vice Chief of Naval Staff, served as the event’s Chief Guest.
Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ovais Ahmed Bilgrami, addressed the session and expressed gratitude to all stakeholders for their contributions to the success of the exercise. He further stated that this exercise clearly displays the PN’s willingness to handle current simmering concerns in a meaningful way to secure security in Pakistan’s maritime zones.
The exercise aimed to review response protocols for marine security incidents, identify weaknesses, and offer solutions to strengthen the response mechanism. Exercise SEA GUARD-24 provided an opportunity to strengthen and revitalize the bonds of Pakistan’s different marine stakeholders, including shipping, fisheries, law enforcement, and private enterprises, through a unified platform of the Joint marine Information Coordination Centre. EX SEA GUARD provided a platform for all stakeholders to participate in tactical exercises, share best practices, and build mutual understanding.
Senior officials from the MOD, MOMA, Mol, MoF, Ministry of Narcotics Control, Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, Anti-Narcotics Force, Pakistan Maritime Security Agency, GPA, KPT, Port QASIM, BYCO Petroleum, as well as various prominent figures from the private sector and fishing community, attended the exercise’s closing session. The attendees were given an analytical analysis of the practical circumstances, as well as issues and recommendations resulting from Table Top talks held at JMICC.
