Pakistan Implementing International Maritime Rules: Junaid Anwar
Pakistan is implementing international maritime rules across the maritime sector, stressing the need for effective enforcement, training and institutional coordination, said Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry.
In a message marking World Maritime Day, the minister highlighted the 2026 theme: “From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence”. This emphasizes translating maritime policies and international standards into practical measures through legislation, enforcement, training and capacity building.
Chaudhry noted that implementation of maritime standards requires coordination among government institutions, regulators, port authorities, shipping companies, and other stakeholders. He emphasized the importance of training and technical cooperation for developing seafarer skills and maintaining operational standards.
A Maritime Education Endowment Fund is being established with seed funding of Rs1.2 billion to support higher education and skills development for maritime communities. The Pakistan Marine Academy is also being upgraded into a degree-awarding institution to strengthen training and professional competence in the sector.
Regarding maritime infrastructure, work has begun on a Rs12bn project to modernize the Gadani shipbreaking yard, aligning it with international safety and environmental standards. Environmental considerations, including measures to control marine pollution, are integral to maritime operations.
Chaudhry linked the World Maritime Day theme with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), stating that implementation in the maritime sector can contribute to infrastructure and innovation (SDG 9), climate action (SDG 13), ocean protection (SDG 14), and international partnerships (SDG 17).
Looking ahead, Chaudhry shared his vision for Pakistan’s proposed "Maritime Century (2047-2147)", focusing on expanding deep-sea port capacity, developing AI-enabled maritime industrial complexes, producing ships locally, creating green and digital ports with multimodal connectivity, and promoting regional maritime cooperation.