It is often said that gold cannot shine if held by an amateur goldsmith; similarly, Pakistan's maritime sector has struggled to reach its full potential due to mismanagement and weak leadership. The significance of sea trade is evident since 80% of international trade is carried out by sea, being the most cost-effective mode of transportation. With a 1,000 km coastline, an exclusive economic zone of 24,000 sq km, and direct access to the Arabian Sea, the country's focus has remained largely on land over the past few decades. This reveals a lack of strategic vision and reliance on ad hoc policies. The maritime industry is a vital part of economic growth, and the size of the naval economy reflects the overall strength of a country's economy (Hasan, 2024).
With a fleet of 74 ships in the 1970s, Pakistan’s maritime sector was thriving and ranked among the world's leading nations in shipbuilding and shipbreaking; nearly 5,000 vessels, both national and international, have been repaired (PIDE Official, 2024). The value of the sector diminished when the nationalization policy was implemented, ultimately reducing the fleet from 74 ships to just 12. This decline highlights the neglect of our leaders, as a country where 90% of its trade is transported via sea has only 12 ships. Currently, “it only carries 7% of the country's cargo, while 93% is handled by foreign cargo companies, thereby stripping the country of $1.5 billion annually” (Hasan, 2024).
The maritime sector includes ports and ships, fisheries, maritime tourism, shipbreaking, shipbuilding, and the exploration of natural resources. In Pakistan, the shipbreaking industry is the only operational sector, accounting for 18% of the global shipbreaking industry; the other sectors remain largely unexplored (Hasan, 2024). Pakistan's strategic location provides the shortest and easiest route to Afghanistan, China, and the Central Asian Republics. These landlocked countries require access to water, and the most affordable and shortest passage is via Pakistan. This presents a significant opportunity for Pakistan to leverage its strategic position and establish itself as a regional maritime hub. Additionally, Pakistan boasts some of the richest fishing grounds; “its coastal sector has a potential of around $3.1 billion in annual fish and seafood production to be exploited and processed, but despite this vast potential, the sector contributes only 0.4% to the country's GDP" (Hasan, 2024). Unfortunately, high-quality seafood is not exported, as current exports do not meet international standards. Another vital component of the blue economy is marine tourism; Pakistan's potential is estimated at around $4 billion, yet, similar to other maritime sectors, it only contributes about $0.3 billion (Hasan, 2024).
The recent developments are a beacon of hope for Pakistan's maritime sector. The federal government allocated Rs 3.47 billion to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs. The Maritime at 100 vision is a long-term plan to grow the sector into $100 billion by 2047. (Staff Correspondent, 2025). Also, the acquisition of four new ships for Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) will expand the fleet to 14 vessels. The Federal Minister said estimates suggest potential revenue of $8-10 billion from shipping, $7-8 billion from fisheries, $10 billion from aquaculture, and $5-6 billion from marine tourism (PID, n.d.). Likewise, foreign investments are also being made, such as Denmark’s $2 billion investment in Pakistan’s port sector (App, 2025) and $2 2billion investment by global shipping company A.P. Moller Maersk (Radio Pakistan).
The events mentioned above indicate the government's seriousness about the blue economy. Recently, the government launched a five-year economic plan, “Uraan Pakistan 2024-29,” which emphasizes the maritime sector. This includes seafood and fisheries exports, shipbuilding and repair, maritime trade and logistics, and coastal development, serving as a great example. To achieve long-term goals, it is advisable that the government pursue the following actions: the primary focus should be on increasing the number of vessels so that we can carry out trade independently. Second, privatize the maritime sectors and attract foreign investments by establishing channels to connect with private maritime institutions worldwide. Third, the government should develop more ports to boost capacity for exports and imports, especially for landlocked states such as Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics. As mentioned above, Pakistan has some of the richest fishing grounds. To maximize this opportunity, the government should provide training to fishermen and equip them with modern technology. According to Dr. Sajid Mehmood (Expert in Maritime Security), Pakistan has the potential to export 3.4 billion fish. Furthermore, Pakistan holds significant potential for marine tourism; the state should invest in this sector, which will create job opportunities. Additionally, the hidden treasures beneath the sea should be exploited by Pakistan. Lastly, Pakistan has suffered from corruption in various aspects. Therefore, the state should establish an independent body, including international agencies and experts, to prevent corruption in the maritime sector.
