ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi has said that the Pakistan Armed Forces have more experience in combating terrorism than other forces of the world, adding that focus on the maritime sector and its development is not a matter of choice rather a matter of compulsion for Pakistan’s economic prosperity.
“It is time that we must develop credible solutions to the issues we face in the development of the maritime sector,” said President Alvi while speaking at the second Maritime Security Workshop (MARSEW-18) under the banner ‘Blue Economy–Prosperous Pakistan’ which culminated at the Pakistan Navy War College, Lahore.
Concurrent with the closing ceremony of the workshop, the first Maritime Doctrine of Pakistan (MDP) was also launched. President Alvi graced the occasion as the chief guest. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi was also present at the impressive ceremony beside senior civil and military dignitaries.
Emphasising the significance of Blue Economy, the president remarked that resource scarcity on land has forced nations to turn their gaze from land to sea. Dr Arif Alvi further added that Institutionalisation of Maritime Security Workshop is a remarkable and a well-timed initiative by the Pakistan Navy. It provides insight and a good grasp over the tremendous potential maritime sector holds and the extraordinary role of the Pakistan Navy in spearheading various initiatives to tap these resources for the country’s economic prosperity.
At the launch of MDP, the president hoped that it would be a trendsetter and would go a long way in laying a foundation for the promotion of the maritime sector for the present and coming generations.
The document is an effort to lay the foundations for a greater understanding and awareness on matters related to oceans and undertaking of multiple peace and wartime roles by the Pakistan Navy. Certainly, MDP will act as a stimulus in sensitising the public at large, shape opinions and become instrumental in providing a sense of direction to the national maritime sector of Pakistan.
Earlier, in his address, Pakistan Navy War College Commandant Rear Admiral Naveed Ahmed Rizvi expressed his gratitude to the president and the naval chief for their worthy presence on the occasion. While signifying MARSEW-18, the commandant said that this workshop has provided a forum for a better understanding of the maritime affairs and associated matters by the legislative body, bureaucracy, academia and private sector of the country.
President Alvi also laid a floral wreath at the Yadgar-e-Shuhada at the Pakistan Navy War College. In the end, the participants of MARSEW-18 were awarded certificates by the president.
Second in the series, the Maritime Security Workshop encompassed on-campus discussions on the maritime potential of Pakistan, the maritime environment, Blue Economy, and national maritime policy and strategy.
During the second leg of the workshop, the participants visited the Naval Headquarters, Islamabad, Pakistan Navy installations and units in Karachi, and coastal and creeks area for orientation and familiarisation. The members visited important maritime organisations like the Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KS&EW) and Karachi Port Trust (KPT).
The participants also had a sea trip on board Pakistan Navy destroyer and later briefed on the Pakistan Navy command structure and coastal as well as creeks area defences. Tour of Gwadar Port and briefing on in-progress China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) maritime-related projects constituted the pinnacle of the visit.
