Pakistan recently held its second International Maritime Expo and Conference (PIMEC-25) in Karachi where it announced ambitious plans to expand its maritime sector and boost its blue economy. It is an initiative of the Pakistan Navy, organized under the patronage of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs. The country plans to invest a $100 billion in maritime development by expanding its national shipping fleet, building three new deep sea ports, adding a new shipyard at Gwadar, modernizing its fisheries, and upgrading maritime education. The plan called "Maritime @100" focuses on turning Pakistan into a regional maritime hub for trade, energy, food, and sustainability. It aims to increase the sector's GDP contribution from the current 0.4%-0.8% to 4% by 2047.
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| PIMEC 2025. Source: Lovin Karachi |
Pakistan has a 1,046 kilometers long coastline on the Arabian Sea with maritime sovereignty over 200 nautical miles deep Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and 150 nautical miles of Continental Shelf. This adds 290,000 square kilometers of sea or about 36% of the country's land area open for tapping vast resources in it.
Pakistan's "Blue Economy" in this extended economic zone includes seafood and energy resources as well as international trade connectivity with the rest of the world. It offers opportunities for water sports, recreation and tourism in the coastal areas of Pakistan. The country recently awarded licenses for 23 offshore exploration blocks to four consortiums led by local energy companies, some partnered with foreign firms including Turkey's national oil company TPAO. These blocks cover an area of 53,500 square kilometers.
PIMEC-25 attracted 178 exhibitors, including 28 international firms and 150 local organizations, alongside 133 international delegations representing 44 countries from Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and the Far East. Participants showcased a wide array of innovations, from uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) and drone jamming guns to advanced port technologies, showcasing Pakistan’s growing role in regional maritime trade.
Zarwah Enterprises, a startup led by Minahil Yousaf, Pakistan’s first female-led aquaculture company, demonstrated sustainable pond construction and shrimp farming solutions. AquaTech Fisheries, founded by Muhammad Kamran and Ahmad Hussain, presented innovative fish feed and aquaponics systems across Pakistan, including new farms in Punjab.
Woot Tech and Winged Innovative Solutions (WIS) rolled out remote-controlled drones and unmanned surface vessels (USVs) equipped with rotary cameras, designed for surveillance, mapping, and cloud seeding. WIS showcased an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) for deep-sea repairs and a portable jammer system for military use. These gadgets highlight how homegrown tech Karachi maritime solutions are supporting both commercial and naval operations.
The National Electronics Complex of Pakistan (NECOP) demonstrated the SAFRAH drone jamming gun, which can disable drones up to 1.5 km away for 40 minutes. NECOP also displayed a maritime logistics drone and the Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS), letting ships monitor multiple systems from a single control point. Another Pakistani defense firm revealed a 25-foot remote-controlled USV capable of traveling 30 km and running for up to five hours.
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Pakistan's Blue Economy
Riaz Haq's Youtube Channel
Riaz, Pakistan has come up with so many plans since its birth that people no longer believe that they will ever be executed! let us hope that this one succeeds.
ReplyDeleteThe Military-Business Complex has an unfair tax advantages and consistently crowds out private investment in critical infrastructure and social development, undermining the prospects for broad-based growth and stability. I do think if private companies (Milbus free) are allowed to operate like any other in the world, they can push Pakistan GDP growth rate to much higher levels.
DeleteYes, Pakistan has not executed well but there has still been significant development in water, power, telecom and road infrastructure. Without it, Pakistan would be in much more dire straits. Example: Afrer rapid population growth over the last several decades, Pakistanis would be starving today without the Green Revolution of the 1960s. Increased farming and vast irrigation network and dams have enabled the country to remain one of the world’s largest food producers.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.riazhaq.com/2021/01/pakistan-among-worlds-largest-food.html?m=1
Pakistan has launched a "$100 billion maritime plan," also called "Maritime @100," to significantly boost its "blue economy" by 2047. The plan aims to achieve this by modernizing ports like Gwadar, expanding the national shipping fleet, developing new deep-sea ports, modernizing the fisheries industry, and investing in renewable marine energy. The strategy focuses on turning Pakistan into a regional maritime hub for trade, energy, food, and sustainability.
ReplyDeleteExcellent initiative, Brofessor sb. Regards
ReplyDeleteAI Overview
ReplyDeletePakistan's Maritime Sector: Time to Shake Away Policy ...
Pakistan's maritime sector has vast potential due to its strategic location and extensive coastline, but it is currently underdeveloped, with challenges including poor infrastructure and an insufficient national shipping fleet. The sector includes traditional industries like fisheries and shipping, as well as emerging areas such as renewable energy, deep-sea mining, and aquaculture. Recent initiatives and a focus on technology, such as port modernization and the use of drones and AI, aim to boost growth, while government and private sector collaborations are seen as crucial for unlocking this potential.
Key sectors and opportunities
Maritime transport: Pakistan's major ports (Karachi, Port Qasim, and Gwadar) are the backbone of its trade, but their effectiveness is hampered by infrastructure and operational issues.
Fisheries: A significant area with potential for both conventional fishing and aquaculture, which is attracting new investment and technology.
Emerging industries: Opportunities exist in deep-sea mining, renewable energy (like tidal and wind power), marine biotechnology, and offshore installations.
Shipbuilding and repair: The sector includes traditional shipbuilding, particularly of small vessels and dhows, though it needs government support to remain competitive.
Challenges
Underutilization of ports: Ports like Karachi, Qasim, and Gwadar are underutilized due to poor infrastructure, operational bottlenecks, and outdated facilities.
Lack of a strong national fleet: The Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) has a limited fleet, leading to a heavy reliance on foreign carriers and significant annual freight payments abroad.
Infrastructure and operational issues: A lack of private sector participation, inconsistent policies, and inefficiencies at ports contribute to slow growth.
Regional tensions: Geopolitical factors and regional tensions also influence the security and development of the maritime sector.
Recent developments and future outlook
Technology adoption: There is a growing focus on modern technology, including AI for surveillance, remote-controlled drones, unmanned surface vessels (USVs), and integrated management systems.
Port modernization: Efforts are underway to modernize and develop the major ports, with Gwadar Port seen as a key potential hub under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Fleet expansion: The government is looking to increase the size of the PNSC fleet to reduce reliance on foreign shipping.
Public-private partnership: Recognizing the need for investment, the government is encouraging private sector participation and international collaboration to boost the sector's growth.
Pakistan approved a new offshore exploration consortium on Tuesday, clearing Turkish Petroleum Overseas Company to take over operatorship of the Eastern Offshore Block-C as part of a push to revive drilling, the adviser to the finance ministry said.
ReplyDeletePakistan's Economic Coordination Committee approved Pakistan Petroleum Limited's (PPL.PSX), opens new tab request to assign part of its interest in the block to TPOC, Mari Energies (MARE.PSX), opens new tab and state-run Oil & Gas Development Co Ltd (OGDC.PSX), opens new tab, leaving PPL with a 35% stake.
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/pakistan-clears-tpoc-led-consortium-operate-offshore-block-2025-11-18/
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https://tribune.com.pk/story/2578126/turkish-firm-awarded-offshore-block
ISLAMABAD:
The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Tuesday allowed a Turkish firm to operate an offshore exploration block and extended the licence period of the zone.
Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) is the operator of the offshore block but it has failed to start work for the last four years. Consequently, the ECC permitted Turkish Petroleum Overseas Company (TPOC) to kick off work on the Eastern Offshore Block-C.
The ECC approved PPL's request for assigning participating interests in the block – a significant milestone in Pakistan's offshore exploration efforts. Under the new arrangement, the participating interests will be held by TPOC with a 25% share, PPL with 35%, Mari Energies with 20% and Oil & Gas Development Company (OGDC) with 20%.
This will bring international offshore operating experience to Pakistan's exploration landscape and is expected to enhance technical capabilities, operational efficiency and overall project delivery. The block contains drill-ready prospects, which will be pursued by the consortium.
The exploration well is expected to attract substantial foreign investment to Pakistan's offshore sector, reinforcing the government's commitment to deepening reliance on indigenous energy resources. In the event of success in drilling, additional opportunities in the area will be prioritised, ultimately contributing to Pakistan's resource base and long-term energy security.
This development aligns with the government's recent award of 23 offshore blocks to various exploration and production (E&P) companies, including the members of this consortium. With ECC's approval, the consortium is now set to advance preparations for drilling operations.
The proposals submitted to ECC for approval included extension in phase-II of the Eastern Offshore Indus Block-C by 36 months, effective from July 1, 2025 in accordance with Rule 26(1) of Offshore Rules 2023.
Maersk reaffirms $2bn port investment in Pakistan
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1359150-maersk-reaffirms-2bn-port-investment-in-pakistan
SLAMABAD: Global shipping giant Maersk has reaffirmed its $2 billion investment plan for Pakistan, signaling one of the country’s most significant prospective boosts to port and logistics infrastructure in recent years.
The investment centers on developing a new port at Gadani, Balochistan, alongside a modern shipping terminal and expanded warehousing and supply chain facilities. The initiative is designed to strengthen Pakistan’s maritime capacity and enhance regional trade connectivity.
The plan builds on a Memorandum of Understanding signed in October 2024 between Pakistan and Denmark, under which Maersk committed to explore major investments in port modernization, integrated logistics hubs, maritime workforce development, sustainable ship recycling and greenshipping practices. Officials say these areas align with Pakistan’s broader goals of improving trade efficiency and meeting global environmental standards.
The reaffirmation came during a high-level meeting between a visiting delegation from APM Terminals, a Maersk subsidiary, and Federal Minister for the Board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh. The delegation briefed the minister on the project’s progress and future expansion components.
Sheikh said the government was committed to fully facilitating international investors, noting that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Finance Ministry remain aligned on efforts to draw long-term foreign investment. He added that the Board of Investment is working to streamline procedures and reinforce policy support to accelerate major projects.
Describing the potential investment as “transformative” for Pakistan’s maritime sector, Sheikh said Gadani’s strategic location offers the most efficient route for transit trade with Central Asia, positioning Pakistan to become a more competitive regional logistics hub.
Pakistan@FaseehMangi
ReplyDeletePetroleum is reclaiming land from the sea to create a launchpad to ramp up oil and gas exploration
The artificial island will come up about 30kms off the coast of the southern Sindh province, near Sujawal
https://x.com/faseehmangi/status/1991106775249244212?s=61&t=mgTxrmITUbpo9NntN5677Q
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The artificial island will come up about 30 kilometers (19 miles) off the coast of the southern Sindh province, near Sujawal, PPL's General Manager Exploration and Core Business Development, Arshad Palekar, said on the sidelines of an oil and gas conference in Islamabad
Pakistan to build an island to boost oil exploration
Construction will be completed in February, and operation will start immediately after
Last updated: November 19, 2025 | 18:54
https://gulfnews.com/business/energy/pakistan-to-build-an-artificial-island-to-boost-oil-exploration-1.500351983
Pakistan Petroleum Ltd., a state-owned energy company, is reclaiming land from the sea to create a launchpad to ramp up oil and gas exploration.
The artificial island will come up about 30 kilometres off the coast of the southern Sindh province, near Sujawal, PPL’s General Manager Exploration and Core Business Development, Arshad Palekar, said on the sidelines of an oil and gas conference in Islamabad. Planned with a height of six feet, the platform will prevent high tides from interrupting round the clock exploration work, he said.
Pakistan’s drilling efforts are gaining fresh momentum after US President Donald Trump indicated an interest in the country’s 'massive oil reserves' in a social media post in July. Since then, the country has awarded offshore exploration licenses to local companies PPL, Mari Energies Ltd. and Prime International Oil and Gas Co.
The project, a first for Pakistan, builds on Abu Dhabi’s experience, where artificial islands for drilling have been successfully built, Palekar said.
Construction of the island will be completed in February, and operation will start immediately after, according to Palekar. The company aims to drill around 25 wells.