NATIONAL MARINE DAY

BAHRIA FOUNDATION COLLEGE,

PWD CAMPUSISALAMABAD

PAKISTAN MARINES

The Pakistan Marines are a component of the Pakistan Navy. They have a role, a task, and a mission, in the overall framework of the PN and Pakistan.

MOTTO The force motto is an Ayat of Surah AL-

IMRAN from the Holy Quran which has following meaning: “And hold fast Allah’s path and do not be divided”.

The Marines seek guidance from this Ayat which insinuates towards their usual functioning.

The setup being manpower intensive outfit essentially requires cohesion and synergy among all its components for successful accomplishment of assigned tasks.

ROLE

The Pakistan Marines (PM), a reinforced regiment, with an estimated strength of 1,500 personnel, guard coastal installations against air attack, and are responsible for security along the Indus delta creeks.

SPECIAL SERVICES GROUP (NAVY)

A separate Naval Special Service Group (SSGN) commando group is trained for special operations. This force has been expanding to a brigade-sized formation to cope with new responsibilities for the air defense of Jinnah Naval Base and the civilian port at Gwandar.

FIRST MARINE SETUP

The first ever Marine setup consisting of Marine Battalion and Amphibious Wing was established on 01 June 1971 to support reverie operation in East Pakistan, a land of rivers.

FURTHER DEVELOPMENT

In 1990 Marine Battalion of Pakistan Navy was formed and PNS QASIM, re-commissioned at Manora, was established as the HQ for marines.

Pakistan was in the process of equipping this force with the better platforms and better weapons that they need.

In this context, Marine Setup comprising of Marine Battalion, Amphibious Wing and Marine Training Centre was reactivated on 14 April 1990 to provide security cover to Naval VAs/VPs, manning of AA assets, aid to civil power, ceremonial duties and training of personnel

Cont..

During the last decade, threat on the SE eastern borders increased manifolds, warranting an immediate response.

Estimating the type and quantum of threat, Pak Navy proposed deployment of a sizeable force in the creeks.

The case of an additional battalion and its phase wise development plan was perused. Since its inception, Creeks Battalion is deployed in its designated Area of Responsibility.

MOBILITY AND FIRE POWER

Pakistan is working to enhance and improve the mobility and firepower of the marines suitably, to match their role and tasks in the seaward defense of the South Eastern Coast. Pak Marines have inducted Hovercraft and Military Assault Boats (MABs).

INDUCTION OF HOVERCRAFT

The Pakistan Navy inducted a hovercraft and military assault boat into its marine force on 04 December 2004. The ceremony was held on PNS Himalaya at Manora Island with Admiral Shahid Karimullah, chief of naval staff,

PAKISTAN MARINE CORPS

The Pakistan Marine Corps (PMC) in its present form was established in 1990.

The then 2,000 man strong force was tasked with safeguarding the littoral area, especially the marsh areas and coastal creeks found around Karachi.

Training and equipment for the Pakistan Navy’s (PN) ‘sea soldiers’, have come a long way since then, and they are now a fully integrated part of the nation's defense.

Cont..

With greater responsibility and roles being assigned to the PMC, it has had to expand. Currently it is undergoing a transformation that will see training and equipment modernized, and its size expanded with the aim to have it up to at least brigade strength by 2015 in order for it to carry out its role more fully.

Cont.. The PMC modernization programmed has a

long way to go yet, especially with regards selecting new equipment in order to make the force more effective and give it greater punch.

However, the building blocks are all currently present. This has ensured that as the PMC grows incrementally with each stage of the modernization process, it will maintain maximum operational effectiveness.

If all goes according to plan, the PMC in 2015 and beyond is set to be a far more potent force, with the potential to grow even further.

THANKYOU !