An International Webinar on Marine Pollution Management : Issues and Remedies was held by Karachi Port Trust. Prominent international & national speakers participated in this event arranged at KPT Head Office and through Zoom as well. Message of Syed Ali Haider Zaidi , Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs was also appreciated by the participants. Summing up the recommendations of eminent marine scholars during the closing session Chairman KPT, highlighted that Pakistan is a Maritime nation having 1100 kilometers of coastline and possessing diverse living and non living marine resources. These resources are providing livelihood to the local communities. However, any form of Marine Pollution is detrimental to the juvenile fish population thereby depleting fish stocks.
The Prime Minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Mr. Imran Khan, has declared the year 2020 as ” Year of Blue Economy ” . In this regard, Pakistan is moving towards sustainable shipping industry.
Pakistan is also a candidate in Category-C for International Maritime Organisation elections this year.
It is recommended that Karachi and Gwadar should have extensive maritime faculty in Universities being coastal cities. Human Resource capacity enrichment will increase employment generation in maritime sector including fishing, ship building, boat building , port and container logistics and expanding port infrastructure. This will help to promote ease of doing business in accordance with present government policy. The pollution free beaches would attract aquatic sports, national and marine tourism.
Some business sectors of Blue economy have immense potential for Pakistan and unimaginable depth as sea ports ensure food and energy security. Substantial research in maritime sector is the need of the hour in diverse areas including digitalisation to further revitalise Karachi’s economy in specific and rest of the country as well. Encroachment along harbour and coastal areas also contributes to coastal degradation.
Toxicity in any harbour is corrosive for craft and port infrastructure. All maritime stakeholders should work togather to upgrade Karachi Port as a Green port of the region complimented by renewable energy sources. Holistic integrated approach and enhanced access to marine areas to facilitate citizens is the need of the hour . In this connection KPT Chair was established in Bahria University, a few years back, with an aim to develop linkage between academia and operational activities at the sea ports.