Pakistan Marines

The Pakistan Marines is anexpeditionary and naval warfare uniform service branch of Pakistan Armed Forces that consists of active duty high-ranking officers and personnel of the Pakistan Navy. The Pakistan Marines are responsible for providing force projection from the sea, using the mobility of the Pakistan Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. Established in 1990, it is estimated about 2,000 active-duty personnel from the Navy, with plans to grow to brigade strength by 2015.

In a military leadership structure, the Marines are a component of Pakistan Navy, often working closely with the Navy for training, executing expeditionary operations and logistics purposes. The Marines are not the separate branch but a part of Pakistan Navy. The Marines were first formed as an amphibious battalion on 1 June 1971, in East-Pakistan as naval infantryto execute operations;however after producing a poor performance in the 1971 war with India, the Marines were disbanded from their service in 1974. In 1990, the Marines were re-established by Commander Obaidullah; since then they have been a part of Navy, often conducting operations with the Pakistan naval forces.

The Marines are an elite special operations force similar to the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and the United Kingdom'sRoyal Marines. During the training of the Pakistan Marines at Marines Training School, the Marines occasionally conduct their exercises with the U.S. Marine Corps. As befits their close association with the Navy, the Marines share the same ranks with the Pakistan Navy but the military codes and trainings are the same as in the Pakistan Army.[1] In 2010, Marines, with a close coordination with the Army, Navy, and Air Force, were working around the clock to rescue villagers trapped by the country's worst deluge in 80 years.

Pakistan Marines Headquarters

PNS Qasim is the naval base for the Pakistan Marines. It is responsible for general administration and logistics requirements of the Marines. Its roles include:

Act as logistics base for Marines.

Operational readiness of all segments of Marines.

Defense of designated operational area in Creek.

Provision of security coverage to VA/VPs of PN and sensitive projects of national importance.

Aid to civil power and rendering of assistance in case of natural calamities.

Provision of Air Defense cover to designated PN units and Karachi complex through deployment of Mistral Missiles, and Air Defense Balloons.

Responsible for conduct of basic and mid-career course for Marines.

Maintain liaison with other PN and Army Institutions for coordinating various courses of instructions.

Supervision/career management of Marines.

Ceremonial duties.