| Unit Name: | National Hydrographic Office Pakistan |
| Dates: | 1959–present |
| Branch: | Pakistan Navy |
| Type: | Research and development |
| Role: | Science and technology |
| Equipment: | PNS Behr Paima |
| Equipment Label: | Research Vessel(s) |
| Commander1: | Rear Admiral Muhammad Saleem HI(M) |
| Commander1 Label: | Hydrographer of Pakistan(HoP) |
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, 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.[3] The command is commanded by two-star rank naval officer— a Rear Admiral— who is designated as the Hydrographer of Pakistan (HoP).[4] 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.[5] [3] The current Hydrographer of Pakistan is Rear Admiral Muhammad Saleem.[4] 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.[3] 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]
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.