While most lifeguard units around the world date back to the late 1800's or early 1900's, Pakistan is one of the few countries, that until June 2004, did not have a professional lifeguard service in place.

Therefore, owing to the large number of drownings (average drownings are 250+ per annum) in the Arabian Sea every year, Pakistan Aquatic Life Saving (PALS), (a division of Critical Mass Social Welfare Organization - an NGO registered under the Directorate of Social Welfare, Government of Sindh), was formed in December 2003 and has been working towards establishing a comprehensive life saving infrastructure along the 35 km stretch of popular beaches of Karachi.

In order to launch and establish the service professionally, the founder of PALS Mr. Reza Samad had approached almost all the established Life Saving organizations around the world for help, assistance and advice for a new set up. After two years of extensive correspondences and exchange of information, PALS is now formally associated with the New Zealand Life Guard Association (Surf Life Saving New Zealand's Northern Region - SLSNR) and is also a member of the International Lifeguard Federation (ILS). This collaboration with the two most esteemed organizations in life guarding, is helping PALS set up a professionally managed life saving unit in Karachi, which could be replicated in other aquatic environments across the country.

In August 2003, the ex-President of SLSNR and Member Board of the Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) visited PALS, on its invitation, for a comprehensive joint study of Karachi's coastline. This study led to a formal commitment on their part to equip PALS with the necessary tools for life saving and to impart comprehensive training.

In June 2004, an 8 member SLSNR delegation visited PALS in Karachi, to impart necessary training to over 200 potential PALS lifeguards in addition to Pakistan Navy divers and CDGK life guards. This has been a great opportunity to train individuals to be expert life guards that are up to mark on current skill levels and trends worldwide.
As a result of this training and subsequent deployment of 150 life guards along the beaches of Karachi, PALS is providing critical public safety to users of Karachi's popular coastline beaches. Currently except for Sea View and Clifton beaches, all the beaches of Karachi are patrolled by the PALS life guards including Sands Pit, Hawks Bay, French Beach, Paradise Point, Neelum Point, Cape Monze, Sunehri and Mubarak Village covering over 35 Kilometers of popular beach front. Clifton and Sea View will be added on the PALS patrol after corporate sector funding for the project is secured.