Islamabad: Pakistan Navy is conducting a national-level maritime exercise titled Sea Guard 2026 from 2 to 9 February 2026 across Pakistan’s major maritime zones, including Karachi, Ormara, Gwadar, and adjoining coastal and offshore areas. The exercise is being carried out in collaboration with key national civil and military stakeholders.
According to Pakistan Navy officials, Exercise Sea Guard 2026 represents another significant milestone in ongoing efforts to enhance maritime security, strengthen inter-agency coordination, and improve preparedness against both conventional and non-traditional threats in the maritime domain. The exercise is designed to assess and reinforce the collective capacity of relevant institutions to safeguard Pakistan’s maritime interests through coordinated and integrated responses.
All operational scenarios of the exercise are being centrally coordinated from the Joint Maritime Information and Coordination Centre (JMICC), located at Manora, Karachi, which serves as the hub for maritime situational awareness, real-time information sharing, and coordinated decision-making.
Sea Guard 2026 is being conducted as a comprehensive national maritime exercise involving a wide spectrum of stakeholders responsible for maritime law enforcement, port security, disaster response, environmental protection, and intelligence sharing. Alongside the Pakistan Navy, active participation is being witnessed from the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA),
Pakistan Coast Guards, port authorities, law enforcement agencies, intelligence organizations, and various civilian sector institutions.
A key objective of the exercise is to review and further improve inter-agency coordination mechanisms, particularly in the timely sharing of maritime information and synchronized responses to emerging situations at sea. The operational scenarios have been developed to reflect real-world challenges present in Pakistan’s maritime environment, ensuring that lessons learned are directly applicable to operational realities.
Maritime security remains the central theme of Exercise Sea Guard 2026, with special emphasis on countering illegal activities at sea, maritime piracy, smuggling, and potential terrorist threats to critical maritime infrastructure. Given Pakistan’s reliance on secure Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) for trade and energy supplies, the exercise underscores the importance of sustained vigilance and proactive maritime domain awareness.
Recognizing the human dimension of maritime operations, Sea Guard 2026 also incorporates extensive Search and Rescue (SAR) scenarios. These include simulated distress situations at sea requiring rapid coordination among naval units, maritime law enforcement agencies, and civilian authorities. Such drills reinforce Pakistan’s commitment to fulfilling its national and international obligations for the safety of life at sea, including effective responses to maritime accidents, fishing vessel emergencies, and distressed passenger craft.
Another important component of the exercise is an independent and impartial evaluation by a designated authority. This assessment provides an objective analysis of the conduct of the exercise, validating mechanisms for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of maritime information among stakeholders. The exercise highlights the importance of integrated systems and robust communication channels, particularly for effective information exchange during time-sensitive situations.
The selection of the exercise area underscores its strategic and economic importance for Pakistan. Karachi serves as the country’s primary commercial port, while Gwadar holds critical significance for regional connectivity and economic development. By conducting Exercise Sea Guard 2026 in these vital maritime zones, the Pakistan Navy and partner agencies are reaffirming their commitment to ensuring the uninterrupted functioning and security of national ports, coastal infrastructure, and maritime interests.
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