The Naval Chief shed light on Pakistan’s economic future linked to maritime security.

Pakistan’s Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, stressed the importance of maritime security for the country’s economic development and emphasized the need to deal with emerging challenges in the Indian Ocean region. His comments came on Monday when he announced the 7th Maritime Security Workshop, which will be held from November 26 to December 5 at the Pakistan Navy War College, Lahore.

Admiral Ashraf highlighted that Pakistan’s economic prospects are “linked to the sea”, which he described as humanity’s “last reservoir of sustenance”. He stressed the need for cooperation, innovation and vigilance to address the unprecedented challenges in the Indian Ocean region and called for a secure marine environment to enable trade and economic growth.

According to Admiral Ashraf, these challenges include increasing geopolitical tensions, nuclearisation, international threats and the rapid pace of technological development.

“The country’s maritime domain has immense potential to drive socio-economic prosperity through the Blue Economy,” he said, adding that maritime resources, if properly harnessed, would serve as cornerstones for national development. can work on

The navy chief’s remarks are also in line with Pakistan’s recent strategic offer to provide access to its ports to landlocked Central Asian countries, allowing them to trade through sea routes. This move reflects Pakistan’s ambition to establish itself as a major hub for regional economic activity.

Admiral Ashraf urged the stakeholders to work collectively for a safe and stable maritime environment that would benefit both Pakistan and the international community.

Emphasizing the need to balance policy innovation with practical measures to protect Pakistan’s maritime interests, he concluded, “Securing our maritime domain is not just a priority but a necessity for sustainable economic growth. “