Highlighting Pakistan’s vast untapped maritime potential, Commander Logistics (COMLOG) and Director General Naval Research & Development Institute (NRDI) Rear Admiral Muhammad Sohail Arshad urged the business community to proactively seize opportunities across shipping, shipbuilding, offshore exploration, maritime technology, logistics, and coastal infrastructure.

Exchanging views at a meeting during his visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), DG NRDI stated that the maritime sector represents one of the most promising frontiers for economic growth, investment, and technological advancement in the country. With an expansive coastline, an enlarged Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), emerging shipbuilding capacity, and policy-level support under active consideration, there was a need for public–private collaboration, indigenous innovation, and private-sector leadership to unlock the full economic value of Pakistan’s maritime domain, he added.

President KCCI Muhammad Rehan Hanif, Senior Vice President Muhammad Raza, Vice President Muhammad Arif Lakhani, Chairman Maritime Affairs Subcommittee Nausherwan Haider, Former President KCCI Majyd Aziz and KCCI Executive Committee Members were also present on the occasion.

DG NRDI Rear Admiral Muhammad Sohail Arshad further stated that Pakistan’s coastal boundary is based on the continental shelf, which was successfully extended several years ago. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 1982, Pakistan’s maritime economic boundaries initially extended up to 200 nautical miles. However, any coastal state that demonstrates its capability to explore and exploit seabed resources beyond this limit is entitled to claim an extended continental shelf. Pakistan successfully demonstrated this capability, resulting in the extension of its Exclusive Economic Zone to 350 nautical miles from the coastline.

He emphasized that this vast maritime expanse offers enormous opportunities for businessmen and industrialists willing and capable of investing in offshore exploration. These opportunities include oil, gas, minerals, and other precious seabed resources, which can be explored and exploited through indigenous efforts, local partnerships, or foreign collaboration, either independently or jointly.

He further informed that a comprehensive Maritime Policy has been finalized and is currently under discussion at the government level. This policy is being actively pursued by Pakistan Navy and is expected to receive approval in the near future. Alongside this policy framework, multiple initiatives are underway to meaningfully engage the business and industrial community and encourage investment in the maritime sector.

Rear Admiral Sohail Arshad also revealed that Pakistan Navy has recently approved a comprehensive Indigenization Plan, under which local industry will be engaged extensively. Engineering firms and business houses will be provided opportunities to participate in the development of indigenous defense equipment, not only to enhance Pakistan’s defense capabilities but also to enable exports of locally manufactured products to international markets.

Highlighting indigenous technological achievements, Rear Admiral Sohail Arshad stated that Pakistan Navy has successfully developed an Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV), partially produced using locally manufactured components. While one prototype has been completed, scaling up production requires industrial facilities and production lines, areas where private sector investment is essential. He noted that NRDI has also designed target drones, quadcopters, and hexacopters for military use, which have significant civilian applications as well, including logistics and delivery services already being employed globally by companies such as Amazon and eBay. With designs and approved prototypes already available, he assured that any business interested in manufacturing such systems would receive full technical support. NRDI, he emphasized, functions as a national design and research house, where the research and development phase has already been completed, the remaining requirement is industrial-scale production.

On indigenous shipping and shipbuilding, he stated that container ship construction has been revived in Pakistan. Furthermore, plans are underway to establish another shipyard in the Gwadar area, along with a ship construction facility near Port Qasim. Once these facilities become operational, Pakistan is poised to emerge as an important regional hub for merchant shipbuilding, with local industry expected to play a central and decisive role in these initiatives.

Earlier, President KCCI Rehan Hanif, while warmly welcoming DG NRDI Rear Admiral Muhammad Sohail Arshad, underscored the importance of establishing a strong and institutionalized liaison between the Karachi Chamber and the armed forces of the country, including Pakistan Navy, as well as other law-enforcement agencies. He emphasized that safety and security are indispensable elements for businesses, investment, and overall economic stability, and sustained coordination between economic stakeholders and security institutions is vital for national progress.

Highlighting the distinguished naval career of Rear Admiral Muhammad Sohail Arshad and his achievements in various capacities within Pakistan Navy, President KCCI stated that the business community of Karachi holds his contributions in high esteem and wishes to place on record its sincere appreciation for the services rendered by him to the country.

He also paid rich tribute to Pakistan Navy for effectively safeguarding Pakistan’s sea borders during the recent Pakistan–India conflict in May 2025. He observed that while attempts were made by India through land and air routes, no aggression was directed from the sea, which, he noted, clearly reflected the robust preparedness, deterrence, and strategic effectiveness of Pakistan Navy in securing the country’s maritime frontiers.