Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) is a para-military law enforcement agency in Pakistan

Pakistan

Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...

. Pakistan Maritime Security Agency responsible for protecting territorial waters of Pakistan. This should not be confused with the Maritime Wing of Pakistan Coast Guards, which performs Littoral patrolling of the coast line. Pakistan Maritime Security Agency is responsible for protecting the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Pakistan which is up to 200 nautical miles (370.4 km) in the International Waters.

Its current commander is Rear-Admiral Zafar Mehmood Abbasi.

Introduction

Pakistan Maritime Security Agency is usually consider a part of Pakistan Navy. Its personnel and equipments are mostly derived from Pakistan Navy. Like many other para-military forces of Pakistan, its original number strength and inventory is classified. It is expected to be consisting of approximately 2000 member. Its Head Quarter is at Karachi. It is commanded by a Rear Admiral seconded from Pakistan Navy.

History

After the Passing of the UN Law of Sea Convention of 1982, Pakistan acquired an Exclusive Economic Zone (E.E.Z) of about 240000 square miles (621,597.1 km²). In order to provide protection to this vast area, the Pakistan Government decided to raise the Maritime Security Agency (M.S.A), which was formally inaugurated on 1 January 1987. The M.S.A. implements the local and international laws in the E.E.Z, and provides surveillance against poaching by illegal vessels and unauthorized survey by foreign craft. It also conducts Search and Rescue (S.A.R) missions, and implements measures for control of pollution and fishery protection.

Fleet

Pakistan Maritime Security Agency is equipped with a former Pakistan Navy destroyer, one missile boat, two fast attack craft and four oceanic patrol craft.

1 Destroyer M.S.S Nazim (Gearing class)
1 Sadaqat class missile boat (Huangfeng Type 021 class) Missile Boat
2 Subqat class (Type 062 class Shanghai II) Fast Attack Craft
4 Barkat class (Type P58A) Oceanic Patrol Vessel