2nd Maritime security workshop commences at Pakistan Navy War College, Lahore

ISLAMABAD, Dec 12 (APP):Pakistan Navy is holding 2nd Maritime Security Workshop (MARSEW-18) on the theme ‘Blue Economy – Prosperous
Pakistan’ at Pakistan Navy War College, Lahore from Dec 12-20.

This National level Workshop is aimed at affording an opportunity to underline the significance of maritime sector of
Pakistan to create awareness for a paradigm shift to tap its potential in a country affected by ‘Sea Blindness’.
Dignitaries from various walks of life including Parliamentarians, Policy Makers, Bureaucrats, Intelligentsia, Business Entrepreneurs, Academia and Media reps are attending the MARSEW-18. The Workshop will entail on campus academic
activities wherein prominent speakers, scholars and subject matter experts will present the papers on array of topics related to Maritime security challenges and opportunities.
The participants will be afforded an opportunity to visit Naval Headquarters Islamabad, Creeks area, Coastal belt
including Gwadar Deep Water Port and important organizations of maritime sector such as Karachi Port Trust and Karachi
Shipyard & Engineering Works. An orientation sea trip is also planned for better understanding of Pakistan Navy Area of
Operation. The participants will also undertake collaborative effort in maritime policy making exercises and threadbare
discussions on the contemporary maritime issues, said a press release.
During the 1st day of the Workshop, distinguished speakers dilated upon various aspects of Blue Economy and Maritime Potential of Pakistan. The speakers include Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi, Former Chief of the Naval
Staff Admiral Mohammad Asif Sandila, DG National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) Dr. Asif Inam and Chief Scientist NIO Dr. Nuzhat.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi underscored the challenges and opportunities in Pakistan’s Maritime Sector, and discussed future road map.
The Minister highlighted that the biggest challenge in the maritime sector is lack of information and interest by common
people.
He added that Pakistan Navy’s initiative of Maritime Security Workshop will return rich dividends by creating awareness regarding Blue Economy and Maritime potential of Pakistan.
Earlier, during the opening session of MARSEW, Rear Admiral Naveed Ahmed Rizvi, Commandant Pakistan Navy War
College welcomed all guests/ participants and highlighted the significance of maritime sector for Pakistan. He emphasized that as
a nation, it is incumbent upon us to take stock of regional maritime situation so that we can devise and implement long term
policies that can enable us to accrue dividends from vast maritime potentials of our country.
The forum is likely to provide a joint platform to reflect upon contemporary maritime environment and security dynamics of Indian Ocean Region. Prospects of blue economy, efficacy of Pakistan’s National Maritime Policy and the proposed way ahead
by the participants would be hallmarks of the Workshop. The MARSEW will further aid in cultivating the maritime consciousness in national landscape for our national policy and decision makers.