KARACHI: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that Pakistan is ready to cooperate and collaborate with other friendly nations and partners around the world to promote a blue economy for the mutual benefit of humanity.
The foreign minister said this on Monday while addressing the international maritime conference titled ‘Development of Blue Economy under a Secure and Sustainable Environment’.
He said that Pakistan recognises the importance of the world’s oceans as a global public commodity and is committed to promoting the prudent use of marine resources for socio-economic development while ensuring environmental sustainability.
The foreign minister maintained that to bring the blue economy to the centre of national economic development paradigm, there is a need to create awareness among all stakeholders about its potential economic, social and environmental benefits, and to provide an enabling ecosystem to attract investments in related sectors.
He stressed the need for concerted efforts to strengthen partnerships and collaboration among businesses, academia, research institutions, and social and environmental organisations to unlock new opportunities.
The FM added the idea of blue economy recognises the seas and oceans as drivers of socio-economic development and encompasses diverse fields from renewable energy to fisheries, coastal tourism, waste management, maritime transport, ocean engineering and climate change.
He termed the sustainable blue economy as critical for reaping the socio-economic benefits for current and future generations with its global value estimated to be over $24 trillion.
Qureshi said that the Indian Ocean is the world’s third-largest water body while retaining its significance for global security, it represented an increasingly important avenue for global trade. He said that the Indian Ocean hosts international maritime traffic that includes half of the world’s containerized cargo, one-third of its bulk cargo, and two-thirds of its oil shipments.
Qureshi said that Pakistan is an important stakeholder in the Indian Ocean security framework, which includes counter-piracy as well as human trafficking and narcotics smuggling.
He added that Pakistan Navy continues to maintain a robust security posture along Pakistan’s coast and in the regional seas, in order to prevent nefarious elements from illicit activities in the maritime domain.
Qureshi said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and development of the Gwadar Port are game-changing projects that have further enhanced the geo-economic significance of Pakistan. The Gwadar Port has the potential to develop into a full-fledged regional hub and a transhipment port. He said, “We have taken a number of initiatives to transform Pakistan’s ports into regional transhipment hubs, including by up-gradation of port infrastructure.”
He also said that the Indian Ocean offers promising potential for mutual cooperation and collaboration; however, he pointed out that geostrategic competition and the pursuit of military dominance by some states has gravely jeopardised that potential. “In particular, India’s belligerent and aggressive policies – currently driven by an extremist Hindutva ideology – pose an immediate and pervasive threat to international and regional peace and security,” he added.
Qureshi stressed that India has nuclearised the Indian Ocean and continues to induct advanced weapons systems and naval delivery platforms in pursuit of its hegemonic designs. He said that in the light of these developments, Pakistan will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure its security and to maintain credible minimum deterrence.
Qureshi underscored India’s belligerent and aggressive policies pose an immediate and pervasive threat to international and regional peace and security. He said that the international community needs to be cognizant of the fact that any military conflict in South Asia could endanger stability in a region that is critical for global trade flows and security.
