‘The Ocean: Life, Livelihood and Sustainability – Opportunities and Challenges for Pakistan’

Experts stress importance of
ocean health, aquaculture development at IPS webinar on World Oceans Day

Mapping and development of strategic human and natural resources
in the maritime sector is the need of the hour to sow the seeds of blue
economic revolution in Pakistan.
This was the crux of the views expressed by maritime policy experts and marine
scientists at a webinar titled ‘The Ocean: Life, Livelihood and Sustainability
– Opportunities and Challenges for Pakistan’, which was organized on the eve of
World Oceans Day 2021 by Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) in collaboration
with University of Karachi, National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA),
Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA), and Maritime Study Forum (MSF) on
June 7, 2021 .

The webinar was chaired by Ambassador (r) Syed Abrar Hussain, IPS’ vice
chairman and addressed by Dr Azhar Ahmad, associate professor, Bahria
University, Dr Nuzhat Khan, former director general, National Institute of
Oceanography (NIO), Nisar A. Memon, technocrat and former chairman of the
parliamentary committee on water resources, Dr Asma Tabassum, manager ORIC,
Karachi University, Naghmana Zafar, senior research fellow, NIMA, Naufil
Shahrukh, GM Operations, IPS and general secretary, Maritime Study Forum (MSF),
while Commander Moeed, Lt Cdr Imran, and Lt Jameel represented the PMSA. The
session was moderated by Hafiz Inamullah Khan, deputy manager outreach at IPS.

The discussants were of the view that developing aquaculture is critical for
enhancing the livelihood means and skills of the fisherfolk coastal communities
of Pakistan, which populate the 1001km long coastline of the country in large
numbers. Research done in universities can help them in developing aquaculture
in their coastal villages for algae, sea grasses, and several other valuable
biological species having great economical, medicinal and environmental
importance.

A lot of meaningful research focusing the marine resources of Pakistan has
already been carried out in Karachi University, Bahria University and other
universities and research institutions, however the government’s apathy and
lack of interest in the industrial sector to invest in R&D and commercialize
available academic research is a big hurdle that needs to be overcome, they
deplored.

Integrated coastal zone management and strict enforcement of national and
international environmental laws to protect the sea and its resources was also
emphasized by the speakers.

During the discussion in the webinar, it was highlighted that all over the
world coastal communities are better off because the coastal areas are more
developed. But in Pakistan, except for Karachi, the entire coast has remained
neglected. Although CPEC has given a fillip to the maritime sector, more
concerted efforts are required to impart modern training and necessary skills
in all elements of the blue economy.

The National Maritime Policy, promulgated in 2002, was revised in draft form
almost a decade back but could not be finalized so far, which the discussants
termed as apathy and nonchalance for maritime affairs on the part of the
policymakers. Pakistan needs a comprehensive maritime policy which should be
formulated by taking all the stakeholders on board, it was urged.

The speakers lauded the efforts of IPS to address sea blindness in Pakistan and
help create a maritime research community engaging universities and think tanks
across the country. To enhance awareness of the oceans and maritime sector,
introduction of the subject in the educational curriculum at various levels was
also advocated.

Commenting on the deteriorating ocean health, the discussants urged the PMSA to
take the lead in enforcing environmental laws strictly by creating synergies
among the environmental protection agencies of Sindh and Balochistan and the
local governments of the coastal districts of both the provinces.