Pakistan's Maritime Sector bedrock of national economy: Naval Chief.

ISLAMABAD -- Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi on Wednesday said the Maritime sector was the bedrock of Pakistan's economy as 95 percent of its trade was seaborne.

The Naval Chief in his message on World Maritime Day (WMD) highlighted the importance of the sector and said it was celebrated each year to underscore the contributions of International Maritime Industry in world's economy and to focus attention on the importance of shipping safety, maritime security and marine environment, said a Pakistan Navy news release.

This year's theme 'Seafarers at the Core of shipping's future' is intended to pay tribute to the professionalism and resilience of seafarers and recognize their indispensable role in securing vital global supply chains in extraordinarily challenging times.

Admiral Niazi said, 'However, this realization is yet to permeate in our national reckoning and intellectual discourse. Pakistan Navy, being a stakeholder in shaping the maritime thought in the country, is playing its due role in creating the desired maritime awareness and to stimulate exploitations of our immense, though untapped Blue Economy.'

He added that Pakistan was blessed with over 1,000 kilometer (km) coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)/ Continental Shelf of 290,000 sq km with abundant resources.

With CPEC already in motion, he said the maritime activities in Pakistan have increasing manifold.

'Therefore, potential of sustainable development in the maritime sector of Pakistan needs to be optimally exploited to contribute towards national economy,' he underlined.

The Naval Chief said world economy was facing major challenge of ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which has affected all walks of life.

Particularly, he said it has placed extraordinary demand on seafarers. With thousands stranded on ships for months beyond their original contracts, unable to be repatriated due to national travel restrictions.

'Similarly, many are...