Seminar sensitises UoS students, faculty to maritime security.

SARGODHA -- The University of Sargodha (UoS) on Tuesday arranged a special lecture on "Pakistan Maritime Affairs: Potentials and Challenges" for students and faculty members.

Station Commander Navy Lahore, Commodore Neimatullah was the guest speaker. He stressed the need for fully exploiting maritime area of Pakistan to tap its potential and called for integration between maritime and enhancing logistic solutions to take full benefit of country's maritime potential.

"Pakistan's maritime areas consist of 290,000 square kilometres and there is a need to tap its real potential," the Station Commander said, adding "Despite having a long coastline and overwhelming economic dependence on sea, Pakistan has not been able to evolve into a true maritime nation.

However, development of the Gwadar Port, at the crown of the Arabian Sea, has provided Pakistan with a unique opportunity to claim its status as an important maritime power."

Underlining the significance of trade, mineral and strategic maritime potential, he reminded that Pakistan's 95 per cent trade takes place through sea and one shipyard can provide work to 50,000 people. Pakistan had the oldest ship recycling Industry, Gadani in the sub-continent and just couple of decades ago, it was used to be the world largest ship breaking yard, he added.

Discussing the strategic location of Pakistan he said, "Pakistan is located at a point which lies just besides the route of world's 60 per cent oil supplies."

Commodore Neimatullah pronounced the CPEC as a game changer and counter to eliminate the Pivot Asia Policy designed by the US to contain the region. He informed the session that Pakistan is located at a very significant geo-strategic place on the globe but the environment, in which CPEC will operate, has opportunities and...