Pakistan Coast Guard
Encyclopedia
The Pakistan Coast Guards is an important branch of the Pakistan Civil Armed Forces and one of the six paramilitary services operating under the administrative control of Minisrty of Interior, Government of Pakistan. Pakistan Coast Guards, headquartered in Karachi, is unique in that it has constitutional jurisdiction over both sea and land. It is responsible for maritime law, and maintenance of seamarks
, border control, anti-smuggling operations, anti narcotics, search and rescue operations and other services.
PCG was raised in skeleton form in 1971 and constituted operationally in 1972 through a Presidential Ordinance. Through a legislation of Parliament, Pakistan Coast Guards Act was promulgated in 1973 and it was recognized as one of the six uniformed services of Pakistan Civil Armed Forces. Over the period of time, it has upgraded its facilities and fleet to bolster its capabilities of law-enforcement to counter the growing threat of smuggling and terrorism. In addition to land based troops, PCG also mainatins a fleet of naval craft to perform its sea-borne duties. The exact number of personnel and equipment held with PCG remains classified. The PCG Headquarters are at Karachi
. It is commanded by a Director General with the rank of Brigadier
seconded from the Pakistan Army
. Pakistan Coast Guards works under administrative control of Ministry of Interior in peace time whereas it will come under operational control of Pakistan Army in war.
The battalions are each subdivided into 3-4 companies (commanded by majors/captains seconded from the Army).
s, camel
s and cattle
for use in the field, as well as a dog
section. It is commanded by a seconded captain from the Remount, Veterinary and Farm Corps (RV&FC) of the Army.
s, to perform this task.
Navigational aid
A navigational aid is any sort of marker which aids the traveler in navigation; the term is most commonly used to refer to nautical or aviation travel...
, border control, anti-smuggling operations, anti narcotics, search and rescue operations and other services.
PCG was raised in skeleton form in 1971 and constituted operationally in 1972 through a Presidential Ordinance. Through a legislation of Parliament, Pakistan Coast Guards Act was promulgated in 1973 and it was recognized as one of the six uniformed services of Pakistan Civil Armed Forces. Over the period of time, it has upgraded its facilities and fleet to bolster its capabilities of law-enforcement to counter the growing threat of smuggling and terrorism. In addition to land based troops, PCG also mainatins a fleet of naval craft to perform its sea-borne duties. The exact number of personnel and equipment held with PCG remains classified. The PCG Headquarters are at Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
. It is commanded by a Director General with the rank of Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
seconded from the Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
. Pakistan Coast Guards works under administrative control of Ministry of Interior in peace time whereas it will come under operational control of Pakistan Army in war.
PCG Battalions
PCG Battalions are led by commandants with the rank of lieutenant colonel, seconded from the Army. The Battalions are located as follows:- 1st Battalion, UthalUthalFor the opera by Méhul see Uthal Uthal is a city of Lasbela District in the Balochistan province of Pakistan. Uthal is headquarters of Uthal Tehsil an administrative subdivision of the district.-References:...
- 2nd Battalion, KorangiKorangiKorangi is one of the neighborhoods of Landhi Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.Korangi Town is a town in the eastern parts of Karachi, Pakistan, south of the Malir River...
- 3rd Battalion, GwadarGwadarGwadar also known as Godar is a developing port city on the southwestern Arabian Sea coast of Pakistan. It is the district headquarters of Gwadar District in Balochistan province and has a population of approximately 50,000.Gwadar is strategically located at the apex of the Arabian Sea and at the...
- 4th Battalion, PasniPasni CityPasni is a medium-sized town and a fishing port in Gwadar, Balochistan, Pakistan. Its population is around 33.000. It is located on the Makran coast on Arabian Sea about 300 km from Karachi...
The battalions are each subdivided into 3-4 companies (commanded by majors/captains seconded from the Army).
Marine Wing
Pakistan Coast Guards as a whole is spread all over to safeguard coastal belt of 1050 Kms as well as upto 12 NM Territorial Waters of Pakistan. Marine Wing of PCG is entrusted with the responsibility of 12 NM of territorial waters. The Marine Wing is based at Karachi and commanded by a lieutenant commander of operation branch, seconded from Pakistan Navy. It is though a small entity, but very much capable of conducting sea worthy operations and activities. MW is equipped with Fast Patrol Crafts, lethal Interceptor Boats and other Utility Boats with latest equipment onboard. Combat staff of the wing is ever ready to sacrifice themselves in the line of duty. MW has full facility to train its men in the relevant fields and able to conduct general and technical cadres. Wing is accomplished with proficient technical staff and adequate facility to maintain its assets. Marine Wing PCG has also established Search and Rescue Centre to safe the precious life in distress and to prevent property loss or damage.Mounted Infantry Troop
AT Coy is based in Korangi with a Training Wing and is responsible for maintaining horseHorse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
s, camel
Camel
A camel is an even-toed ungulate within the genus Camelus, bearing distinctive fatty deposits known as humps on its back. There are two species of camels: the dromedary or Arabian camel has a single hump, and the bactrian has two humps. Dromedaries are native to the dry desert areas of West Asia,...
s and cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
for use in the field, as well as a dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
section. It is commanded by a seconded captain from the Remount, Veterinary and Farm Corps (RV&FC) of the Army.
Anti-smuggling
To keep a check on smugglers and stop their activities of smuggling (inbound as well as outbound) through the sea routes. PCG Battalions have special check posts all along the coastal belt and also pickets the threatened areas randomly. In addition, The Intelligence Wing has a network of agents and informers and establish pickets in consultation with Commandants of the PCG Battalions when a potential smuggling activity is reported to take place. PCG has been equipped with modern communication and surveillance equipment; including radarRadar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
s, to perform this task.