'Coastline security plan to avert Mumbai-like attacks'

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'Coastline security plan to avert Mumbai-like attacks'

Tuesday, 29 Sep, 2009


Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Noman Bashir. – APP

KARACHI: Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Noman Bashir has said that plans are under way to set up a security apparatus to look after the country’s coastline to avert Mumbai-like terrorist attacks.

Addressing an international conference on 'Piracy on the high seas' here on Monday, he said that at present navy, Maritime Security Agency, coast guards and other agencies were doing the job but there was no organisation which could be solely responsible for such a task.

The conference has been organised by the Master Mariners Society of Pakistan.

The naval chief said that when the incident of Tasman Spirit took place there was not a single agency to handle the issue of pollution caused by oil spill along the coastline and, therefore, initiatives were taken to cope with such problems.

The navy, in consultation with quarters concerned, prepared proposals which have been approved by the government.

Recently, the Naval chief said a proposal had been made for setting up an agency mainly to guard the coastline.

Admiral Bashir stressed the need for bringing about a change in the ‘continental mindset’ and said there should be no distinction between corporate and military side of sea use.

He said that navies around the world worked to protect sea trade from pirates which was one of the oldest professions in the world.
The global trade through sea stands at 90 per cent and Pakistan’s trade at 97 per cent.

Therefore, it is important for Pakistan to protect it sea routes from ever-growing piracy.