Rethinking the ocean management of blue economy and the future of Ports and shipping logistics in Pakistan.

Byline: Urooj Aijaz

A nationwide campaign of Bahria University to promote Blue Economy

Shipping logistics represents a person or company who contracts to transport cargo from the port or place of discharge of a sea-going or ocean-going ship to another destination by a different means of transport, such as a feeder vessel, truck, train and Glossary of Port and Shipping Terms etc.

The Indian Ocean is a vital part of the economies, livelihoods and cultural identities of the States which border or lie within its boundaries. Fisheries, offshore oil and gas, tourism and maritime industries are already making a significant contribution to the economies of the Indian Ocean states. New opportunities are appearing in these established sectors and new emerging sectors which will require a cooperative approach to capture and exploit in a sustainable manner. The ocean does not recognize geopolitical boundaries and many of its ecosystems and much of its biodiversity are cross-border which can give rise to competitive exploitation.

Development of efficient ports and optimizing maritime routes are key elements to harnessing opportunities from and facilitating international trade, enhancing connectivity and boosting economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. With 90 percent of value of global trade carried by ships, economic growth is intricately linked to maritime transport activities and overall performance of the shipping and related industries. It is estimated that there are about 50,000 merchant vessels registered in 150 nations. Aside from the volume of goods traded through ports, the number of passengers traveling by ferries and cruise ships are on the rise. While the value of global trade has slowed down somewhat in recent years, there is continued upward trend in cargo and bulk shipping and explosive growth of the cruise industry. Gwadar Port has huge potential of transforming not only the Blue Economy of Pakistan, but also the game changer for the entire region.

Pakistan is one of the most strategically significant countries in the region. The...