Karachi’s coastal waters saw heightened activity this week as the Pakistan Navy carried out a two-day security exercise designed to safeguard the country’s busiest ports. The drills, held simultaneously at Karachi Port and Port Qasim, brought together the Navy’s Coastal Command, the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA), the Karachi Port Trust, and several other key agencies.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the exercise was aimed at detecting and neutralising potential threats to critical maritime infrastructure before they could escalate. It also served as a readiness check for how well different agencies could work together under real-time pressure.
A significant part of the training focused on improving communication links and strengthening command-and-control systems between the participating organisations. Officials say the effort underlines Pakistan’s resolve to keep its maritime trade routes secure and ensure that port operations continue without disruption—a crucial factor given the country’s reliance on seaborne commerce.
These drills come at a time when ports worldwide face increasing security challenges, from piracy and smuggling to cyberattacks targeting logistics systems. Exercises like this, Navy officials note, are intended to keep response strategies sharp and coordination seamless.
