Under the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, and the Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Mr. Khalid Hussain Magsi, Secretary MoST Mr.Shahid Iqbal Baloch the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), operating under the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), Government of Pakistan, is leading a landmark Pakistan–China Joint Oceanographic Cruise. This strategic scientific initiative is designed to enhance national marine research capabilities, promote international scientific cooperation, and generate critical knowledge of Pakistan’s coastal and offshore marine environments to support sustainable development and informed ocean governance.

The joint scientific mission is being conducted in collaboration with China’s Second Institute of Oceanography (SIO) under a Letter of Agreement signed on 12 December 2025 in Hangzhou, China, between NIO and SIO. The agreement was formally signed by Director General NIO, Engr. Naimatullah Sohoo, and the Deputy Director General of SIO, signifying a shared commitment to joint marine research, data exchange, and capacity building.

The cruise is being carried out aboard Pakistan Navy’s hydrographic survey vessel PNS Behr Masah, facilitated through the National Hydrographic Office (NHO). The vessel is supporting comprehensive oceanographic, marine environmental, and geophysical surveys as part of a four-season marine data collection program in Pakistan’s coastal waters.

The initiative is being led by Director General NIO, Engr. Naimatullah Sohoo, who is overseeing scientific coordination, institutional collaboration, and execution of the joint research activities. The cruise focuses on marine ecosystems, coastal dynamics, climate variability, and sustainable utilization of ocean resources.

A key feature of the collaboration includes joint research initiatives, scientific data sharing, and capacity building, providing Pakistani scientists with opportunities to analyze marine samples in advanced Chinese laboratories not currently available in Pakistan, along with training in modern oceanographic equipment, onboard data collection techniques, and post-cruise laboratory analysis.

NIO reaffirms its commitment to strengthening international scientific cooperation and advancing marine research to support sustainable ocean research stewardship and national maritime interests.