PN sets up JMICC to consolidate maritime strategy

The Pakistan Navy (PN) has established a Joint Maritime Information and Coordination Centre (JMICC) to harmonise the efforts of all maritime stakeholders through timely gathering and sharing of information to effectively the safeguard maritime interests of Pakistan. The JMICC, being the nerve centre of Joint Maritime Information Organisation (JMIO) concept, had been duly approved by Islamabad.
The centre would be manned round the clock and representatives from all maritime stakeholders would form part of the centre, said a statement issued by the PN.
A formal inauguration ceremony was held here on Thursday wherein Minister for Defence Syed Naveed Qamar was the chief guest. The defence minister appreciated the PN’s efforts for establishing an Interagency Coordination Body in the shape of JMICC and urged the ministries concerned, agencies and departments to support the JMIO and render whole hearted assistance to this nascent organisation in order to improve the country’s maritime security. “Our aim should be to further consolidate our maritime strategy to counter all threats and challenges in order to reap the unlimited benefits offered by the sea,” he said.
Congratulating all those who contributed towards the establishment of this institution, Qamar said he had no doubt that the JMICC would, over the years, become the hub of all information related to maritime security at national and regional levels to address the issues related to the maritime domain. In his welcome address, Commander Coast R/Admiral ZM Abbasi said the biggest challenge to maritime security was inter agency coordination between a host of organisations and departments associated with the maritime sector working under different ministries. To overcome this weakness, the PN took lead role for creating the JMICC so as to provide horizontal linkages between various agencies involved with the maritime sector. The ceremony was attended by high level military and civil officials including the heads of various maritime organisations.