Rana Ihsaan Afzal Khan, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Commerce, held a meeting with Admiral Javed Iqbal HI (M), President of the National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA), to explore avenues for integrating Pakistan’s maritime potential into the national trade and export strategy.
The meeting underscored the vast untapped opportunities within Pakistan’s Blue Economy, particularly in light of the country’s 1,000-kilometer coastline and strategic geographic location. Both sides acknowledged that the fisheries sector presents significant potential for export expansion, alongside emerging prospects in coastal tourism, shipbuilding, marine services, and maritime logistics.
The importance of academia and think tanks in contributing to evidence-based policymaking was emphasized, with a shared view that stronger institutional linkages are needed to effectively shape and support maritime trade strategy.
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs’ long-term “Maritime Century” vision was also discussed. The comprehensive roadmap focuses on port expansion, modern fleet development, shipbuilding and recycling industries, green maritime technologies, and human resource development to transform Pakistan into a competitive maritime nation.
A key proposal discussed during the meeting was the establishment of a dedicated Sectoral Council within the Ministry of Commerce, in coordination with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, to mainstream Blue Economy considerations into trade policy and systematically address sectoral issues to enhance exports. The proposed mechanism would also support the development of a comprehensive Blue Industrial Strategy aligned with export competitiveness objectives.
Both sides agreed to further strengthen collaboration between trade and maritime institutions to unlock Pakistan’s coastal potential for sustainable growth, industrial development, and export diversification.
