Pakistan Maritime Security Agency ( PMSA )
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ghazi52
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The successful anti-smuggling operation conducted jointly by Pakistan Maritime Security Agency and PCs is testament to Govt's resolve to deny illegal/criminal activities in Maritime Zones of Pakistan and synergetic efforts of Maritime LEA to ensure security of our waters..
The successful anti-smuggling operation conducted jointly by Pakistan Maritime Security Agency and PCs is testament to Govt's resolve to deny illegal/criminal activities in Maritime Zones of Pakistan and synergetic efforts of Maritime LEA to ensure security of our waters..
Super Falcon
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If we have pasa why wasting lot of money revenue on same sort of coast guards
iLION12345_1
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The PCG is part of the army, it’s budget is included in the army budget. Has a different role. PCG is not the equivalent to other countries coast guards, PMSA is, just confusing naming.
S.Y.A
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should be handed over to pmsa. army just wants to keep its presence in coastal areas as well, hence the coast guards.
Super Falcon
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Do ever other armies have any naval branch NO than why we
iLION12345_1
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Most armies have a “naval” (not the correct term to use, more correct would be water traversing capabilities) branch. PA is not unique in this regard. Ours is just named poorly.
Picture this scenario: there’s an army base on the coast, and they need to guard the side of their base which borders the sea, this base might be there for AD purposes, for protection of other local installations like at CPEC etc, it makes more sense to have a small water component than call the navy or the PMSA. The PCG doesn’t operate ships, just smaller boats. It’s existence makes sense, it’s name doesn’t.
CivilianSupremacy
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Hi, by your description it looks like Pakistan Coast guard is a service to defend Army coastal bases. Not sure, how many Army bases are at the coastal areas. But even if there are many those can be defended by Army's regular branches. Why to raise a special branch for it ?
Secondly, we hear about Pakistan Coast Guards only in the news when they catch up some million dollars whiskeys or drugs or smuggling items. This task and even protection of coastal installations like ports etc should be Navy's job. Navy too have seals and ground force. Organizationally this is too much overlapping.
If wikipedia has correct info then Pakistan Coast guard has below assets:
10 fast patrol vessels
50 patrol boats
25 patrol craft
18 hovercraft
and about 15,000 men.
If true, that's quite a big force.
So we have patrol crafts and boats for both Navy & Army active at coast & shallow waters. The perception that Army wants its control on everything and especially the control over the items being smuggled in/out, which kind of items to be allowed, which to be siezed, which to be destroyed, that's a big avenue understandably.
Pakistan Coast guard has sizeable fleet of patrol crafts & patrol boats / hovercrafts. That's why there is a genuine concern that why Navy & Army are overlapping in this domain.
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Absolutely correct on poor naming. But wrong on existence! There shouldn't even be a separate force for the kind of roles that you mentioned. Army can just use its own soldiers for this kind of stuff. Nothing stopping an army soldier from using a boat! And if they really need then they can have a "shore defence unit" or something within the army. But the PCG is a separate force with roles that should be merged with PMSA and the force disbanded!
Below are the PCG roles from their own website! All traditional 'coast guard' jobs in other countries except that is supposed to be what PMSA is in pakistan!
Role of Pakistan Coast Guards
As per PCG Act 1973, mandate of this Force is defined as “Whereas it is expedient to provide for the constitution and regulation of PCG and for special measures to effectively check smuggling of any kind across the frontiers of Pakistan in the Coastal Area of Arabian Sea and also to deal with persons acting in a manner prejudicial to the defence and security of Pakistan in that areaâ€.- Functions. Main functions of PCG under 1973 Act are:-
- Prevention of smuggling
- Prevention of illegal immigration to and migration from the Country.
- Stopping enemy agents or saboteurs from infiltrating into the Country along the Coastal Areas.
- Supplementing defence during war.
- Legal Powers. In order to accomplish the assigned tasks in a befitting manner, certain legal powers have been vested to PCG under various Acts.
- Police Act – 1861. Under this act, all Officers and Junior Commissioned Officers are vested with Police powers; however it is only applicable outside the jurisdiction of Seaports and Airports since they have dedicated agencies for the purpose. The details are:-
- Every post serves as a police station.
- Every Officer and Junior Commissioned Officer possesses powers of Station House Officer (SHO) and can:-
- Record FIR and carry out investigation.
- Present challan in relevant courts of law.
- Control of Narcotics Substance (CNS) Act – 1997. Under CNS Act, Officers and Junior Commissioned Officers are authorized to exercise powers to:-
- Carryout seizure and arrest in public places.
- Stop and search public / private transport.
- Trace and freeze assets, when required.
- Customs Act – 1969. PCG has been vested with anti smuggling powers to check illegal smuggling of goods. Under this Act, PCG is authorize to check smuggling of contraband items.
- Police Act – 1861. Under this act, all Officers and Junior Commissioned Officers are vested with Police powers; however it is only applicable outside the jurisdiction of Seaports and Airports since they have dedicated agencies for the purpose. The details are:-
Compare this to the Operations part on PMSA website homepage,
PMSA conduct Search and Rescue (SAR), Marine Pollution Control, Anti-Poaching, Anti-Smuggling and Drug Trafficking operations with regular patrolling and surveillance of Pakistan EEZ.
They do have some other functions also but essentially there is overlapping with PCG. Even in the area of responsibility. PCG is limited to 12NM from shore. But this areas is included in PMSA AoR also as on their website (as below), so why not let PMSA handle the whole thing? Having two forces is wasteful.
| PMSA’s area of responsibility extends from coastline to seaward and covers all maritime zones of Pakistan. These include: | |
|---|---|
| Territorial waters | 12 NM |
| Contiguous zone | 24 NM |
| Exclusive Economic Zone | 200 NM |
| Extended Continental shelf | 350 NM |
This area is roughly 290,000 Sq Km. In addition to this, PMSA is also responsible for Search and Rescue in a large area assigned by International Maritime Organization (IMO). This area extends up to 840 NM from the coast.
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