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ISLAMABAD, Nov 26 (APP):Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr Musadik Malik on Wednesday met Director General Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) Rear Admiral Shahzad Iqbal HI(M) to discuss strengthened collaboration on maritime environmental protection, marine pollution control and coastal resilience.
During the meeting, Rear Admiral Shahzad Iqbal briefed the minister on the PMSA’s ongoing initiatives, including the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) project designed to bolster maritime surveillance and promote sustainable fisheries governance.
He outlined the agency’s major responsibilities, which include preventing illegal and unregulated fishing, conducting search and rescue operations, coordinating among ministries on maritime matters, managing Pakistan’s maritime borders, and acting as the country’s secondary maritime force.
The PMSA chief also formally invited Dr Malik to attend Exercise BARRACUDA, scheduled from December 9 to 11.
The multinational exercise focuses on improving national preparedness for oil spill response, marine pollution management and search and rescue readiness at sea.
Both sides discussed the growing threat of waste dumping into the sea and its mounting environmental and economic impacts, including degradation of marine ecosystems, declining fisheries productivity and risks to Pakistan’s export sector.
Dr Malik reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working closely with the PMSA to protect Pakistan’s maritime environment, enhance environmental security and strengthen climate-resilient marine governance.
He appreciated the PMSA’s operational role in safeguarding the country’s maritime domain and underscored the need for coordinated efforts across federal institutions to ensure long-term sustainability of marine resources.