Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal has pledged to transform Pakistan’s blue economy from potential into performance, positioning it as a major contributor to export-led growth, employment generation, and sustainable development.
Speaking at a forum titled ‘Strengthening Pakistan’s Blue Economy: High-Level Roundtable on Maritime Growth,’ the planning minister said the country holds significant opportunities to boost foreign exchange earnings and promote sustainable economic growth by leveraging its maritime resources. Representatives from the Gwadar Port Authority, Ministry of Maritime Affairs, and other stakeholders attended the session.
The forum featured a detailed briefing by Member Infrastructure Dr Waqas Anwar on the ministry’s preparatory work and proposed roadmap for the development of maritime and blue economy sectors. Prof Iqbal stressed that Pakistan’s economic future depends on expanding exports and generating foreign exchange, with the blue economy offering a strategic avenue to achieve these goals while supporting sustainable development.
According to the briefing, achieving Pakistan’s vision of a $1 trillion economy by 2035 will require accelerated export growth and effective utilization of untapped sectors. The blue economy provides substantial potential in fisheries, aquaculture, ports, shipbuilding, and maritime tourism to increase foreign exchange earnings. However, current gaps in value addition, cold chain infrastructure, processing, branding, and marketing limit the sector’s returns.
The planning minister highlighted foundational work already completed on port development, including Karachi, Port Qasim, and Gwadar, as well as shipbuilding and the revitalization of Gadani Shipyard. He emphasized that unlocking the full potential of maritime resources requires a holistic and integrated approach, along with coordinated action across all stakeholders.
The initiative reflects Pakistan’s broader strategy to diversify its economic growth drivers, harness untapped maritime resources, and create sustainable employment opportunities in sectors connected to the blue economy.
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