ISLAMABAD:The experts on Tuesday underscored the need for updating maritime policy, vision to cope with challenges and lift the blue economy as the country had immense potential in the sector to expand and uplift national economy.
The experts made these remarks during the Webinar titled “New Technology for Greener Shipping” organized here by National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA) following the launching ceremony of the special edition of “Economic Affairs” magazine on World Maritime Theme Day 2022.
Speaking on the occasion, Vice Admiral (R) Abdul Aleem said Pakistan had unparallel resources in marine life, but unfortunately the country was lagging behind developed countries due to lack of technology, comprehensive maritime policy and vision.
“We have not given enough importance to the shipping industry as Pakistan had 70 ships five decades ago, that reduced to merely 13 ships in 2022 which covers only ten percent seaborne trade of the country,” he added.
He said that Pakistan had over 1,000 kilometers (km) long coastline which could attract thousands of tourists and become a tourism magnet of the region like Maldives with shining gold like sand dunes and unique coral reefs that were of exotic nature.
Professor, Bahria University Azhar Ahmad said that media should play its role to highlight the importance and challenges of blue economy as Pakistan had immense resources in the sector which were still untapped demanding exploration.
Highlighting the impediments of blue economy in Pakistan, he said sea blindness was a common phenomenon in developing nation including Pakistan as the sector had been neglected in the country due to land oriented mindset and understanding of the actual potential.
Former Ambassador Naghmana Hashmi said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had major connection with Pakistani marine life as the country carried out 91% of its trade through sea. Therefore, it was high time to hold conferences, media campaigns, road shows and academic activities to underscore the potential of blue economy in the country.
“Our interest in maritime industry has reduced over the years due to strings of reason, but institutes like NIMA are playing instrumental and remarkable role to revive one of the game changer agents of Pakistan’s economy,” she added.
Chief Executive Officer, Engro Vopak Ismail Mahmud on the occasion briefed the forum that Engro terminals were working on the “Mangrove Ecosystem Restoration project” to conserve the lifesaving forests of the coasts around the delta area surrounding Port Qasim Karachi.
On the community intervention front, he said the Engro developed a sustainable coasts program in partnership with WWF-Pakistan and was actively engaging the local fishermen in the vicinity of its Terminal at Port Qasim.
In 2021, there were about 450 beneficiaries near Ibrahim Hyderi and the Terminal vicinity, where they were given long-line fishing gears, toolkits and trainings by WWF experts on sustainable livelihood practices in fishing.
General Manager FOTCO, Adnan Samdani said that sustainable operations at FOTCO were being carried out through Oil Spill Contingency – through stringent SOPs and oil spill boom that used to prevent marine pollution, mangroves plantation to protect marine environment, decarbonization through reduction in vehicle movement within premises, restricted use of diesel generators and renewable energy solutions along with sustainable waste management through minimizing solid waste.