Blue economy is a ‘game changer’, says PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday declared the blue economy as Pakistan’s “new economic frontier,” calling for a unified national effort to unlock its vast potential.

Speaking at the soft launch of the 2nd Pakistan International Maritime Expo and Conference (PIMEC 2025), the prime minister laid out the vision for transforming Pakistan into a regional maritime powerhouse.

“It is a great pleasure to see the Pakistan Navy, under the patronage of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and in collaboration with key partners, organising the second edition of PIMEC,” said the prime minister. He lauded the leadership of Naval Chief, Admiral Naveed Ashraf and Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, for their strategic foresight and dedication in steering this important initiative.

Highlighting the critical role of the Navy in national defence and regional security, he said, “The Pakistan Navy has been a formidable force through all conflicts and remains a strong pillar of our national security.”

Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to international peace and maritime law, he cited the AMAN Exercise — featuring participation from over 50 countries as a symbol of Pakistan’s global engagement and cooperative maritime posture.

With over 1,000 kilometers of coastline and a position at the crossroads of

vital sea lanes, Pakistan, he said, was uniquely positioned to harness the trillion-dollar global blue economy. “Even tapping a fraction of this economy could be a real game-changer,” he asserted.

“Our coastal trade already brings in nearly $7 billion a year and just imagine the potential if we fully develop this sector,” he said.

He urged the nation to take inspiration from global success stories such as Japan, which rose from limited maritime resources to become a global leader in marine infrastructure and regional trade. “Let there be open competition,” he added, emphasising the importance of resilience, innovation, and strategic investment.

Shehbaz stressed the need to transform Pakistan’s maritime sector into a driver of inclusive, sustainable economic growth while calling for synergy among public and private sectors. “The time has come to take the lead,” he said.

The minister for maritime affairs outlined the government’s strategic roadmap for the maritime sector. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to building a vibrant blue economy and introduced the “Maritime at 100” Vision, a long-term plan to grow the sector into a $100 billion economic force by 2047 marking Pakistan’s centennial.

“PIMEC 2025 will be more than an exhibition; it will be a catalyst for investment, innovation, and regional cooperation,” the minister told a gathering of policymakers, maritime professionals, and international stakeholders.

The minister while underscoring the immense potential of the sector, highlighted key economic drivers such as a Rs88 billion fisheries industry, the Gaddani Ship Recycling Yard, with recovery potential exceeding Rs30 billion, and a strategic location linking global trade routes.

“The oceans are not just water bodies, they are economic lifelines. Pakistan must position itself as a regional maritime hub,” he said.

He also announced the creation of a Maritime Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a centralised Maritime Complaint Cell for transparency and efficiency, federal investment of Rs12 billion in the revival of the Gaddani Ship Recycling Yard, acquisition of four new ships for the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, raising the national fleet to 14 vessels, progress on a major dredging project at Port Qasim, and development of a multi-modal logistics corridor from Gwadar to bolster trade and connectivity.

Commodore Ahsan Ali Khan, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff, emphasised the vast economic potential of oceans in his remarks. “Oceans are not only a source of countless marine species and seabed resources — they also serve as the most cost-effective medium for transportation and global trade,” he said.

He highlighted Pakistan’s strategic location, offering the shortest sea access to Central Asian republics, Afghanistan, and western China via Karachi and Gwadar ports. “CPEC is a practical demonstration of Pakistan’s commitment to unlocking the blue economy’s potential and enhancing regional connectivity,” he said, adding that PIMEC represents a key milestone in that direction.

Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz met a high-level delegation from the UAE led by Gulf country’s Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange Abdulla Nasser Lootah, and also including UAE Ambassador Hamad Obaid Al Zaabi and Abdullah Al Balouki and Ibrahim Al Ali from the Government Knowledge Exchange Office.

During the meeting, the prime minister said the United Arab Emirates has positioned its country among the developed countries with its modern management system, and Pakistan was keen to benefit from its experiences, a PM Office news release said.

The prime minister said that Pakistan has taken steps such as digitisation and paperless economy to improve its administrative structure. In addition, a faceless Customs system has also been implemented.

He underlined that Pakistan wanted to benefit from the experiences of the UAE to achieve good governance so that these steps could be made more effective as effective steps were being taken to improve data-based decision-making.

The prime minister, recalling his meeting with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during his previous visit to Abu Dhabi, said that the meeting was very fruitful. The UAE played a significant role in reducing tensions between Pakistan and India during the Pakistan-India conflict, he added.

On the occasion, UAE Minister Abdulla Naseer said that the UAE and Pakistan have long-standing brotherly relations and appreciated the important role of the Pakistani community in the development of the UAE. He said that the UAE was happy to exchange experiences and information with Pakistan.

Later, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Abdulla Naseer attended the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries. Under this MoU, the two countries will cooperate in improving government performance by exchanging knowledge and mutual experience, guidance and development models in relevant fields.

The MoU covers cooperation in areas such as good governance, development planning, public sector reforms, human resource development, urban planning and science and technology among others.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and Special Assistant Syed Tariq Fatemi were also present.

Meanwhile, the prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s condemnation of the recent Israeli aggression against Iran and expressed the nation’s sympathies with it over the martyrdom of innocent civilians.

The prime minister met Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam on the occasion of Pakistan International Maritime Expo and Conference, PM Office said in a press release.

Discussing the current regional situation, the prime minister expressed Pakistan’s solidarity with Iran and its people during this time of heightened tension.

Referring to his recent telephone conversation with Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, the prime minister said that Pakistan supported Iran at the United Nations Security Council meeting, adding Israeli attacks were a complete violation of the UN Charter and the international laws.

Meanwhile, chairing a review meeting on IT training for youth and establishment of training ecosystem in Pakistan, the prime minister directed the authorities concerned to formulate modern training programmes for the youth to ensure their employability and develop Pakistan as a regional hub of information technology.

He said that a sustainable and advanced ICT (Information Communication Technology) system would be established to position Pakistan as a central hub for the IT sector in the region, according to a PM Office press release.

In this regard, local companies will be provided with a skilled workforce to enable them to meet international standards and generate foreign exchange.

Meanwhile, the prime minister took notice of media reports regarding the arrest of tax defaulters and issued strict instructions that no such legal amendments should be used to harass the business community or taxpayers under any circumstances.

He directed the formation of a special committee on this matter. He chaired a review meeting of matters related to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

The prime minister was briefed that the legal provisions for the arrest of sales tax defaulters had been part of the law since the 1990s, however, in the light of decisions by the courts, amendments were being made to these clauses to make them more coherent.

The meeting was attended by the ministers for defence, law, commerce, economic affairs, information and broadcasting, minister of state for railways, FBR chairman, economic experts and senior officials.

After thoroughly reviewing the matter, the prime minister opined that harassing regular taxpayers was unacceptable.

“The respect and dignity of the business community and investors is of utmost importance to us and any unjustified harassment is intolerable,” he added.

He further instructed that the mandate of arrest under relevant tax laws should be limited only to cases involving defaulters of an extraordinary scale.

The prime minister also directed that an effective system of external review and checks and balances be put in place regarding arrests.

Provisions related to protection against misuse of these laws should be included in the Finance Act, he observed. He further directed that all allied parties in the parliament should be consulted on the issue.

In his message on the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, observed annually on 17 June, the prime minister said the Day highlights the global urgency to address land degradation and enhance resilience to the escalating impacts of drought.

The 2025 theme, “Restore the land. Unlock the opportunities,” is a timely call to action, reminding us that restoring degraded landscapes is essential not only for climate resilience but also for unlocking social, economic, and environmental benefits.

Land is a vital asset for Pakistan’s food security, water availability, biodiversity conservation, and rural livelihoods. However, nearly 50 percent of our land area is affected by various forms of degradation driven by deforestation, overgrazing, salinity, waterlogging, and unplanned urbanisation. These issues are compounded by climate change, which has intensified the frequency and severity of droughts, wildfires, and floods. The unprecedented 2022 floods and recurring dry spells illustrate the scale of challenges we face, he said.

The prime minister said Pakistan remains committed to the implementation of its international obligations, particularly those agreements that are vital to regional peace. India’s unilateral actions that aim to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance are a matter of serious concern for Pakistan. There is no provision for such actions under the Treaty, and the waters of the Indus are the lifeline of the 240 million people of Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan will defend its right to water, as provided under the Treaty, while simultaneously accelerating efforts to enhance its domestic water storage capacity.

The government has also prioritised sustainable land management and ecosystem restoration as key pillars of its climate resilience agenda. Landmark initiatives like the Up-scaling of the Green Pakistan Programme have resulted in the plantation of over 2.2 billion plants.

“We are also implementing the National Climate Change Policy and National Adaptation Plan to guide integrated land use and enhance ecological integrity. These policy frameworks align with our commitments under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), to which Pakistan has been a Party since 1997.”

“As we mark this important day, I urge all stakeholders to join hands in restoring our lands and securing a climate-resilient future for generations to come, the premier concluded.