Oceans, seas, islands and coastal areas are considered as a vital constituent of the earth’s ecosystem and are significant resources for global food security and for sustaining economic prosperity.

Pakistan is blessed with a vast coastline and a very large exclusive economic zone.

Pakistan is occupying a strategic position athwart the main Indian Ocean trade routes and in close proximity to the Gulf on the Indian Ocean Rim at a place where the south west, central and south Asian regions merge. The country provides a direct land route from Central Asia to warm waters of Arabian Sea. Its geographical position is ideal to facilitate communications, promote trade and co-operation in the region.

However, Pakistan has not been able to exploit the sea resources to the maximum due to lack of maritime awareness and sound policies. In these exceptional times, change seems to be a mandatory for further progress.

Developing nations are trying to accomplish UN millennium development goals of eradicating poverty, women participation in economic activities, ensuring environmental stability. And the term “Sustainable Development” is turning into a theoretical reality.

Our vast coastal belt and EEZ contains solutions to our grave problems and provides us with an opportunity for expanding commercial activities. Maritime sector is related to fisheries, tourism and mining. Also off-shore wind energy fields are being planted in different parts of the world. This requires our institutions and policy makers to develop national maritime awareness and evolve right policies.

There is a lack of educational programmes on maritime affairs, non-availability of technological resources, absence of sufficient interest in the maritime sector, deficiency in expertise, high degree of illiteracy in the coastal regions and inadequate infrastructure for promoting maritime activities. Despite having a vast coastal belt of 990 kms, all port facilities are concentrated in and around Karachi. Though inaugurated in March 2005, Gwadar Port has a long way to go ahead for utilising its strategic economic benefits. Fisheries is also an important component of the overall maritime sector. It has always been important to the world economy. The rich fishery resources remain to be fully developed.

Almost the entire population of the coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan depend on fisheries for its livelihood. The Sindh coast extending southeast from Karachi to the border with India, is characterised by a broad continental shelf and a coastline marked by a maze of creeks and mangrove-covered mudflats of the Indus river delta, serving as nursery grounds for many fin- and shellfish species. The Balochistan Coast, roughly north and west of Karachi, is generally mountainous with large bays and a narrow, abruptly descending shelf.

In view of the huge fisheries resources available, the present annual production of nearly 445 thousand metric tons seems to be quite meagre. The sector is threatened by exponential rise in pollution levels in waters, over- fishing, illegal fishing practices, lack of preservation facilities and degradation of the ecosystem.

Because of extensive destruction of mangroves, (the natural breeding grounds of shrimp and various fish species), a number of fish species have either vanished or their production is hampered. Similarly, Tuna population is also depleting due to several devastating acts of the stakeholders. In absence of a sound policy, fishery sector which could be a strength for the economy, is suffering. An adequately developed fishing industry can earn huge foreign exchange besides providing vitamin-rich diet to the locals.

Fishery development can improve the living conditions of the communities along the coastlines by providing employment opportunities. Some important elements to be considered in fishery are processing plants, storage facilities, preservation and marketing techniques, adequate financing and substantial support to allied industries such as the manufacturers of gears, boats, engines and accessories necessary for the fish industries. Apart from the provision of facilities, it is important to curb illegal fishing practices. Trawlers and large fishing boats fitted with sophisticated nets pose a direct threat to marine life and fish stocks.

Another important domain in the maritime sector is tourism. Tourism is considered to be the fastest growing business in the world, providing over 200 million jobs. The country is endowed with some of the most beautiful coasts and yet not much has been done to promote tourism. There is little international tourism and local people are not yet oriented towards coastal recreation.

While there is vast coastal belt including towns like Gwadar, Jiwani, Ormara, and Pasni, coastal and marine based recreation is concentrated only in Karachi. In order to promote tourism, it is essential to develop marine parks and other marine recreational facilities in coastal areas. .

Academic degree programmes offering maritime subjects should also be initiated in universities, both at graduate and undergraduate levels. Bahria University in Karachi has started an MBA-maritime programme offering specialisation courses like fundamentals of maritime sector, port and shipping management, marine environmental administration, cargo handling systems, management and admiralty and shipping laws.

The programme is designed to produce human resources at the middle management level in the maritime sector. But more programmes related to maritime studies need to be initiated.

It must be realised that the failure to develop maritime potential, many opportunities have been missed and the country has paid a heavy price.