National Hydrographic Office Pakistan
Active1959–present
Allegiance Pakistan
Branch Pakistan Navy
TypeResearch and development
RoleScience and technology
Research Vessel(s)PNS Behr Paima
Commanders
Hydrographer of Pakistan(HoP)Rear Admiral Muhammad Saleem HI(M)

The National Hydrographic Office Pakistan' (Reporting name: NHO), is an active-duty and non-combatant naval administrative staff command, and one of the major science and technology command of the Pakistan Navy.[1] The command served as the operational scientific naval oceanographic program for the Government of Pakistan and jointly conducts research and development programs with civilian National Institute of Oceanography.[2]

Commissioned in 1959,[3] the command is headquartered with the Naval Headquarters (NHQ) in Karachi, Sindh, and directly reported to Naval Surface Fleet (NFS).[1] The command is mandate to conduct studies on hydrographic surveys of coastal and offshore waters of Pakistan, and publishing nautical charts and relevant publications.[4] The command is commanded by two-star rank naval officer— a Rear Admiral— who is designated as the Hydrographer of Pakistan (HoP).[5] The Hydrographer of Pakistan acted and served as the chief naval hydrographer and consults and guide Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) on important matters of oceanographic science and technology.[3][4] The current Hydrographer of Pakistan is Rear Admiral Muhammad Saleem.[5] The command is directly affiliated with International Hydrographic Organization and International Maritime Organization charged to deal and guide the United Nations with subjects related to Hydrography, Oceanography and safety of life at sea.[4] The command is notable for providing its integral establishment for the planning and development of Pakistan Antarctic Programme and played an influential role in setting up the parameters, goals of research and development, technical direction for the Polar Research Cell of the Antarctic programme in 1990s.[6]

Extension of Continental Shelf

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National Hydrographic Office Pakistan (NHO) played a crucial role in the extension of EEZ of Pakistan. Pakistan Navy initiated the continental shelf extension case at ministerial level in 1995.

On 19 March 2015, UN Commission on continental shelf extension (UNCLCS) accepted Pakistan's case on continental shelf extension resultantly historic event occurred in the country's history when Pakistan became the only country in the region whose continental shelf is extended from 200 NM to 350 NM.

References

  1. ^ a b GoPak. "National Hydrographic Office Pakistan". Government of Pakistan. Electronic Government of Pakistan. Archived from the original on 27 April 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  2. ^ National Institute of Oceanography. "Coastal Hydrography". National Institute of Oceanography. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  3. ^ a b "Ex-Hydrographers". Ex-Hydrographers of Pakistan. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  4. ^ a b c "Hydrography". Naval Directorate for Inter-services Public Relations. Pakistan Navy Directorate for Inter-services Public Relations. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Hydrographer of Pakistan (HoP)". Pakistan Navy, Hydrographer. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  6. ^ Riffenburgh, Beau (2006). National Antarctic Research Programmes Pakistan. United States: Taylor and Frances Group LLC. pp. 661–665. ISBN 978-0-415-97024-2.

External links

Pakistan Navy
Authority control databases
Categories