Importance Of Maritime Security Increased After China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Project: President

President Alvi said that importance of maritime security increased after China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project under One belt One road programme, which requires security of Gwadar for future trade.

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Dec, 2018 ) :President Arif Alvi said that importance of maritime security increased after China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project under One belt One road programme, which requires security of Gwadar for future trade.

While emphasizing upon the significance of Blue Economy and Maritime Security, he said for Pakistan's economic prosperity the focus on Maritime sector was not a matter of choice rather a compulsion.

He lauded that Pakistan Navy was fully capable of defending maritime frontiers and national maritime interests of motherland.

President also appreciated that institutionalization of National Maritime Security Workshop was a well-timed initiative by Pakistan Navy. "It provides an insight and a good grasp over what tremendous potential maritime sector holds and the extraordinary role of Pakistan Navy to spearhead various initiatives to tap these resources for the country's economic prosperity", he added.

President Alvi urged the nation to adopt golden principles of Quaid-i-Azam, "Faith,Unity and Discipline" as a guiding light in the day to day matters and to achieve life goals.

About newly launched Maritime Doctrine of Pakistan (MDP), the President said that it would be a trendsetter which would go a long way in laying a foundation for promotion of maritime sector for present and coming generations.

"The document is an effort to lay foundation for a greater understanding and awareness on matters related to oceans and undertaking of multiple peace and war time roles by Pakistan Navy," he said.

He said that the document of National Maritime Policy was with the cabinet division and it would be presented before the National Assembly for approval.

President wished that Pakistan might be able to build its own ships in the country soon in order to meet the demands of Navy, and trade needs.

He said that fisheries sector had an important role in the modern Blue Economy, but this sector was ignored in the past, adding that Pakistan was not getting proper advantage of fish exports.

"Pakistan was exporting fish worth 300 million Dollars in 1997 which has decreased now, whereas Vietnam is earning 10 billion dollars from exports of fish",he highlighted.

He said that modernization of fishing was needed and well equipped boats fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) be used so that they could be tracked in any emergency.

President Alvi also stressed on the development of coastal tourism and for this purpose he said that security of the coasts was direly important. He added that more than 2.5 million tourists visited Gilgit-Baltistan this year due to better security situation, otherwise just 15,000 people visited the area in three years before 2018.

He expressed the hope that change would come in the country, however, he stressed that "real change could not be brought without delivering justice to the common man".

He said that women empowerment was also equally important for prosperity of the country as nations could not progress without contribution of women for socio-economic development.

Commandant PN War College, Rear Admiral Naveed Ahmed Rizvi, in his address highlighted significance of Maritime Security Workshop 2018 (MARSEW-18). He said that this initiative provided a forum for a better understanding of maritime affairs and associated matters by the legislative body, bureaucracy, academia and private sector of the country.

The participants of MARSEW-18 were awarded certificates by the President of Pakistan.

Later, President Alvi laid a floral wreath at "Yadgar-e-Shuhada" at Pakistan Navy War College.