Pakistan

Navy contemplates relocating PNS Mehran base

Pakistan Navy considers relocating PNS Mehran base after the attack that left 10 security personnel dead.

Express May 25, 2011

The Pakistan Navy is considering relocating its PNS Mehran base after the attack on May 22 left 10 security personnel dead and destroyed two PC-3 Orion aircrafts.

Naval Chief Admiral Noman Bashir also pointed towards the possible relocation of the base. However, navy officials said the debate has been ongoing before the attacks took place this week.

Pakistan Navy spokesman Commander Salman Ali said the Mehran Base is surrounded by a civilian population on all sides, which increases security risks.

Ali said it would be impossible to relocate every naval base in Karachi, but said the relocation of PNS Mehran is being considered as a serious option.

He said the authorities are debating about all possibilities and requirements before shifting the base elsewhere, but no decision has been made.

COMMENTS (20)

Brig (Retd) Waheed Uz Zaman Tariq | 12 years ago | Reply That is a good option but we have to probe into the root cause of the problem and make all the country safe. There was a time when no one could think of passing by a military installation. There was a decorum, respect for a national asset and sense of responsibility. That culture is no more in esistance. As a nation, everyone would have been watchfull to keep an eye on whatever is going unusual near him. The houses are rented to unknown tenents, doubtful activities are overlooked and there is sense of helplessness. There is lack of confidence in law enforcing agencies. The conspiracy theories are pervailing and people are targetting in teh darkness.

Aamer | 12 years ago | Reply Relocating the base won't make a difference. Relocate your priorities, stop spending the taxes of ''civilians'' on your BMW's

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Maria | 12 years ago | Reply Why do they now realise that it is silly to have military bases and centres in civilian areas. They should have done this long ago!

S Minhaj Zafer | 12 years ago | Reply Relocate??? how many ?? & what not??

EJ | 12 years ago | Reply and the cost of moving bases - please! money better spent on solving the electricity issues.

Kazmis | 12 years ago | Reply The base is situated on very nice location, however it is true if base is relocated then PAF Faisal also resulting very costly land for Bahria foundation and Shaheen Foundation. However there is a viable solution that behind the base toward Malir river, all unnecessary, unauthorized Karachi colony should be removed from the vicinity of the Base.

Watchman | 12 years ago | Reply The value of land where Mehran Base is located runs in the billions.. They can easily acquire more land at a cheaper price a little outside Karachi. They can sell most of the empty land at Mehran Base or use that land for some other commercial venture which will repeat them a god profit hence the new base will need very little funding.and can be custom made.

Mujib Abakhel | 12 years ago | Reply @ Moise: Totally agreed

Mirza | 12 years ago | Reply Relocation is a great idea for safety, as long as it is not in Pakistan. I totally agree with Babar.

Bangash | 12 years ago | Reply This is a 10 year project.

Moise | 12 years ago | Reply New Bahria Housing Scheme coming up.

A Khan | 12 years ago | Reply Our Army/Navy/Air force always come up with expansive solution, why don't they try to improve their security skills. Already wasted more than $100 million on destroyed Orions.

MAD | 12 years ago | Reply Why not revive PAF korangi creek for the navy. its close to the sea as well. or they could use one of the abandoned facilities in Malir.

TightDhoti | 12 years ago | Reply Do u cant defend the base, so now the taxpayer has to pay for a new base?

Asim Khan | 12 years ago | Reply Pakistan was made on the ideology of Islam. So loyalty to Islam is loyalty to Pakistan and vice versa.

Rahim | 12 years ago | Reply @ Babar, you are quite right, it the mindset our leaders and Army have to work on. Also our nation needs a good education system. I think we should spend more on the betterment of society rather then Army.

M Khan | 12 years ago | Reply I totally agree with what Babar says ... but on another note Why do these lazy people (known as Admirals and Generals etc) are not doing things till they not only cause embarrassment to the nation but also their friends and family gets killed ? Why are You sitting on your butts all the time not planning for future? Is this your security arrangement .. Do you not feel ashamed calling yourself security experts & planners and above all professionals(!)? Ultimately it is you who has to pay the price along with all these innocents who don't have power to plane or. And those hypocrites who supports those criminals, don't forget you are supporting those who ran away like chickens when the US came to this region and are hiding like rats in our country. If the world decides to come here after them where are these rats going to hide and where are you going to run with them?

babar alam | 12 years ago | Reply relocate the religious hate & bigotry instilled into the minds of our soldiers thanks to zia's islamisation campaign.Relocating physical assets won't save them,you have to relocate the islamic fundamentalism out of the soldiers' heads otherwise they'll keep on thinking that their loyalty is to Islam & not to pakistan.The pak fauj is pakistan's army not islam's army. Understand the difference.

muhammad fajim anwar | 12 years ago | Reply Why are we so myopic.can't we see that hiding planes somewhere else won't save us from the religious terrorists.The problem is not administrative,the problem is religion's intrusion into state matters.We've allowed religion to dictate odious & barbaric laws to be enacted like the blasphemy laws,law of evidence etc. As long as we have religion interfering in govt. matters we'll never have peace for the religous fanatics are always filled with hate & intolerance towards anyone not agreeing with their religous bigotry & misogyny.The problem is not administrative,it's religion.

uzma faraz | 12 years ago | Reply shifting bases won't help as long as our establishment & soceity in general continue to support,back & defend the islamic fundamentalists who are eating our country up like termites. our authorities have been funding,protecting the religious fanatics as they think the jihadis will act as proxy warriors for them.Our society ever ready to outdo one another to prove just how good a muslim they are give chanda & khairat to these religious terrorists to run their madrassas in which they brainwash another generation of children into becoming islamic fundamentalists. it's time our forces instead of taking logistical measures to save themselves took action to remove the root of the problem,if we don't stop the spread of islamic fundamentalism be it barelvi,deobandi or shia we'll continue to suffer.

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