PNS Himalaya | |
Partof: | Pakistan Defence Forces |
Location: | Manora Island, Karachi, Sindh Province. |
Type: | Military base |
Ownership: | Pakistan Defence Forces |
Controlledby: | Pakistan Navy |
Built: | (88 years ago) |
Used: | 1943 - Present |
Current Commander: | VDAM Raja Rab Nawaz, PM |
Occupants: | Pakistan Navy Technical Branches Pakistan Navy Non-Tech |
The PNS Himalaya, formerly known as HMIS Himalaya, is the naval base and the home of the Pakistan Navy's only boot camp, commissioned in 1943.[1] It is on Manora Island, Karachi. Till 1947 it was titled as HMIS Himalaya as Pakistan was then part of British India. The base is named after the famous Himalaya Mountain Range.[2]
As a first step, Marine Training Establishment (MTE) was created at Manora in 1948. The facility was upgraded as an independent unit in Dec 1950. Subsequently, a new establishment was considered for commissioning in an area where future expansion could take place.
Before 1971, All the training centers was in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).
In 1971, The New Entry school was established in PNS Himalaya for Sailors Initial training or Boot camp.
Between 1971 and 1980, the following training schools were established in PNS Himalaya for the sailors of Pakistan Navy:
Navigation and Operations School
Surface Weapons School
Underwater Warfare School
Communications School
In 1981, On the commission of PNS Bahadur (Commissioned in 1980) all schools were shifted to PNS Bahadur.
On 14 April 1990, Pakistan Marine was recommissioned or recreated PNS Himalaya as the first headquarters of Pakistan Marines.
In 1994, Headquarters of the Pakistan Marines was relocated from the PNS Himalaya (Navy's only boot camp) to the Manora Fort in the PNS Qasim.
Currently, PNS Himalaya is the Initial Boot Camp of new enrolled sailor candidates in Pakistan Navy.