ISLAMABAD: The Indian Ocean is a strategic conduit of commerce and provides the foundation for the trading system which underpins Asia’s economic importance, said National Security Adviser retired Lt Gen Naseer Khan Janjua.

Speaking at a seminar on the Maritime Economy and Geopolitics of the Indian Ocean Rim and the challenges it poses of Pakistan, Mr Janjua said Asia has the world’s largest human resources, consumer markets, natural markets, development scope and connectivity potential.

The major channel to connect all of this with the rest of the world is the Indian Ocean.

“Nothing is in isolation. The Indian Ocean and the power politics that it holds are perhaps not fully understood,” he said, adding that the region has become more competitive than cooperative.

Speakers at a conference say Pakistan is not giving due attention to maritime sector

He said that for Pakistan to increase its potential, it must become a massive trade corridor and it needs to recognise the future impact of Iran, Afghanistan, the central Asia republics and China as well as Russia.

The event was organised by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) in collaboration with Bahria University.

Most speakers agreed that Pakistan is not giving due attention to tapping into the full potential of the maritime sector and that the ‘blue economy’ needs to be given special attention for the ultimate sustainable use of Pakistan’s maritime resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs as well as the ocean’s ecosystem health.

Speakers said that the current security environment in the Indian Ocean region is characterised by unique features so that the sub-regional regimes are weak, existing security arrangements are primarily led by the West and there is an emphasis on bilateral and not multilateral security arrangements.

After internal stability, Pakistan’s primary challenge is lack of maritime outlook. By exploiting its maritime potential to the fullest, Pakistan can extricate itself from its present state of inadequate economic resource mobilisation and launch itself on an alternative trajectory leading to rapid economic growth and social development.

Speakers also said policy makers of the country need to come up with a reform plan in order to develop a strategic plan for the ‘blue economy’, establish a scientific task force to measure the natural capital and the value of eco-system services and, in the context of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, establish a joint Pakistan-China scientific group to publish a joint Pak-China blue economy report.

They also agreed that changing mindsets is never easy, but the transition has already begun particularly after CPEC, and all it needs is to be given direction and momentum.

ISSI Chairman Ambassador Khalid Mahmood spoke about the importance of understanding maritime economy.

He said that the Indian Ocean is the key transit region for inter-continental trade and Pakistan would do well to exploit this to its full potential.

He said that Gwadar is not going to be an ordinary port, it will be the lynchpin of CPEC’s multi-billion strategic investment because of its location, and that it will survive the challenges of modern shipping.

He said if we are aspiring to be a rising Asian power in the decades ahead, we will have to pay more attention to developing our maritime sector.

Whereas, retired Rear Admiral Mukhtar Khan director general Institute of Maritime Affairs at Bahria University said that the maritime economy model has established a sustainable development framework for developing countries and effective leadership can help channel this model to the forefront.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2018