Navy Chief Highlights Pakistan’s Blue Economy Potential at Maritime Security Workshop

Islamabad: The Maritime Security Workshop (MARSEW), now in its eighth edition, has evolved into a flagship initiative of the Pakistan Navy, serving as a vital platform for fostering maritime awareness and informed debate on Pakistan’s maritime security needs. Addressing the participants, the Navy Chief expressed great satisfaction over the workshop’s growth into a nationally significant forum shaping maritime policy thinking.

Hosted by the Pakistan Navy War College in Lahore, MARSEW-8 brings together government officials, military representatives, business leaders, academics, entrepreneurs, and media professionals. This diverse participation, the Navy Chief emphasized, is essential for developing a unified national understanding of Pakistan’s maritime challenges and opportunities.

He noted that oceans, marine resources, and the Blue Economy are central to global geopolitics and economic security. Situated along a critical Sea Line of Communication in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), Pakistan holds immense maritime importance. With substantial yet underutilized maritime potential, Pakistan’s economic future is deeply connected to the sea—described as humanity’s last major reservoir of sustenance.

Despite its vast promise, Pakistan’s Blue Economy currently contributes only a small share to the national GDP. However, the Navy Chief stressed that with effective development and strategic focus, it has the capability to add tens of billions of dollars to the economy. Harnessing this potential, he said, is not a matter of choice but a national necessity—requiring a whole-of-nation approach.

Highlighting the rapidly evolving dynamics of the IOR, he underlined the need for a comprehensive maritime strategy that ensures both security and prosperity. A stable maritime environment, he added, is indispensable for safeguarding national interests and unlocking economic opportunities.

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Expressing confidence in the workshop’s outcomes, the Navy Chief said MARSEW-8 would inspire vibrant exchanges of ideas and innovative solutions. He affirmed that the fresh perspectives shared by participants would contribute to strengthening Pakistan’s maritime security architecture and advancing its Blue Economy objectives.

He concluded by extending his best wishes to all participants for an enriching experience, saying, “May you have fair winds and following seas.”