Proposal to Establish Blue Economy Sectoral Council to Boost Exports

PAKISTAN

Rana Ihsaan Afzal Khan, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Commerce, held a meeting with Admiral Javed Iqbal, President of the National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA), to explore ways to integrate Pakistan’s maritime potential into the country’s trade and export strategy.

During the meeting, both sides highlighted the vast untapped opportunities within Pakistan’s Blue Economy, noting that the country’s nearly 1,000-kilometer coastline and strategic geographic location offer significant prospects for economic growth and export expansion.

The discussion emphasized that the fisheries sector holds considerable potential for boosting exports, while emerging opportunities also exist in coastal tourism, shipbuilding, marine services and maritime logistics.

Participants stressed the importance of stronger collaboration between academia, think tanks and government institutions to support evidence-based policymaking and help formulate an effective maritime trade strategy.

The meeting also reviewed the “Maritime Century” vision of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, a long-term roadmap aimed at transforming Pakistan into a competitive maritime nation. The plan focuses on port expansion, modern fleet development, shipbuilding and recycling industries, green maritime technologies and human resource development.

A key proposal discussed was the establishment of a dedicated Sectoral Council within the Ministry of Commerce, in coordination with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, to incorporate Blue Economy considerations into trade policy and address sector-specific issues to enhance exports.

The proposed mechanism would also support the formulation of a comprehensive Blue Industrial Strategy aligned with Pakistan’s export competitiveness goals.

Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation between trade and maritime institutions to unlock Pakistan’s coastal potential and promote sustainable economic growth, industrial development and export diversification. – ER News Desk

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