Pakistan and Belgium have agreed to enhance collaboration between their maritime institutions and explore opportunities for training and exchange programs for students from both countries. This understanding was established during a meeting between Belgian Ambassador Idesbald Van der Gracht and Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry at the ministry.
During the meeting, both parties discussed cooperation in maritime education, institutional linkages, port development, and the broader potential of the blue economy. Minister Chaudhry noted that the Pakistan Marine Academy is being upgraded to a degree-awarding institution, with most of the work on this initiative already completed. He emphasized that Pakistani students could benefit from training and educational opportunities at Belgian maritime institutions. A proposed exchange program would allow students from both countries to learn from each other’s experiences and expertise.
The minister also highlighted the substantial potential for cooperation between Pakistan and Belgium in the maritime sector, stating that sharing expertise and institutional experience could help both nations develop their blue economies.
The conversation also focused on Pakistan’s plans to expand and modernize its port infrastructure. Minister Chaudhry explained that the government is working to increase transshipment activities at Pakistani ports and pursuing several projects to enhance these ports’ commercial and industrial capacity. These projects include a multipurpose terminal, an automobile zone, and a garment zone at Port Qasim. The automobile zone will involve refurbishment work, while the garment zone aims to support the development of an industrial park at Port Qasim.
Additionally, an energy city is planned to provide storage facilities for oil-producing countries, catering to white oil, crude oil, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). At the Karachi Port Trust (KPT), the government is also developing both on-dock and off-dock terminals.
Minister Chaudhry expressed Pakistan’s desire to improve regional connectivity through Gwadar Port by linking it with Central Asian countries, which could create new opportunities for trade and transit. He emphasized that Pakistan’s expanding maritime infrastructure, combined with its geographical position, offers numerous opportunities for international cooperation in shipping, logistics, port services, maritime education, and other areas of the blue economy.
The Belgian ambassador and the minister both expressed a commitment to further strengthening institutional ties and identifying practical areas for cooperation between the two countries’ maritime sectors. Mr. Mohammed Rajpar, Managing Director of General Shipping Agencies (Pvt) Ltd and Chief Executive of the Pakistan Belgium Luxembourg Business Forum, was also present at the meeting.
