Home »Business and Economy » Pakistan » National Assembly passes Maritime Security Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2012

  • News Desk
  • Dec 11th, 2012
  • Comments Off on National Assembly passes Maritime Security Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2012
The National Assembly on Monday unanimously approved ''''The Maritime Security Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2012'''' to facilitate the recognition of the agency as law enforcement agency. The Bill was moved by Minister for Defence Syed Naveed Qamar in the Lower House of the Parliament, which passed the Bill unanimously.

Maritime Security Agency (MSA) is an attached department of Ministry of Defence to enforce national laws and international agreements under Water in the Maritime Zones of Pakistan. According to objectives and reasons of the Bill, the draft Bill will enable the Maritime Security Agency to be called as Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA). Thus, conveying/facilitating its recognition as a Law Enforcement Agency (LEA).

The main objective of the change is to establish the agency as a national government organisation both at national and international level. Other countries are following similar practice/designation eg US Coast Guard, Indian Coast Guard, and Sri Lankhan Coast Guard. The change in nomenclature will be brought through a change/amendment in Act of Parliament 1994.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2012


the author

Top
Close
Close