Some 52 billion dollars have been pledged for many infrastructural projects in Pakistan, out of which $32 billion is to be exclusively spent on energy projects in the next five years. If this materialises, Pakistan will become one of the largest recipients of Chinese outbound investment, claimed Pakistan-China Institute Executive Director Mustafa Hyder Sayed.
Mustafa Hyder Sayed was speaking at the second day of 6th international maritime conference on “maritime economy, environment, and security co-operation: bringing the west pacific and the Indian Ocean closer”. The event has been organised by National Centre for Maritime Policy Research (NCMPR) in collaboration with Pakistan Navy.
The second day of the conference began with the security session in which Zhiyong Hu from China, Rear Admiral (r) Dr Rakesh Chopra from India, Rear Admiral JJ Ranasinghe from Sri Lanka and Prof Sikander Ahmed Shah of LUMS presented their papers. Admiral (r) Shahid Karimullah, former chief of the naval staff, was the guest of honour.
During the trade and economy session, Commodore (r) Syed M Obaidullah talked about Indo-Pacific as a super maritime region of the 21st Century whereas Dr Azhar Ahmad shed light on the Gwadar-Kashgar corridor and its impact on the region.
The oceans are vital for security and economic life of the littoral states. But at the same time it is each state’s responsibility to safeguard the oceans and the marine life. Keeping this in view, the day’s final session highlighted the environmental aspects of the Indo-Pacific region. Federal Secretary Climate Change Division Arif Ahmed Khan was invited as the guest of honour.
Dr Ghulam Rasul, Chief Meteorologist, discussed the socio-economic impacts of increasing tendency of typhoons and cyclones. Whereas DrYimin Ye from Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Headquarters gave a comparison of fisheries management between the Northwest Pacific and the West Indian Ocean regions. Captain (r) Tariq Masood, Director NCMPR, talked about the ship breaking industry of Pakistan and how it could be made environmentally safe.
Foreign delegates, local dignitaries, government officials, experts of maritime sector, academia and naval personnel were in attendance on second day of the international maritime conference.