Pakistan pushes enforcement of global maritime standards

Mettis Global reported that Pakistan is moving to put global seafaring norms into daily practice, with officials stressing strict enforcement, skills development and closer coordination between agencies. Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry made the case in a message released for World Maritime Day. He argued that this year's theme demands that policies and standards be converted into real action through laws, enforcement, training and capacity building.

According to the minister, meeting these benchmarks hinges on joint work among state agencies, regulators, port authorities, carriers and other parties. He singled out training and technical partnerships as vital for seafarers and maritime professionals. On education, a Maritime Education Endowment Fund is being established with initial funding of Rs1.2bn, while the Pakistan Marine Academy is being upgraded into a degree-awarding institution.

A Rs12bn scheme to update the Gadani shipbreaking facility has begun, with upgrades intended to meet global safety and environmental benchmarks. He also said environmental protection must become part of port and shipping operations, citing mangrove restoration at ports and weekly clearance drives by the Karachi Port Trust. The minister linked the theme to SDG 9, SDG 13, SDG 14 and SDG 17, and outlined a proposed Maritime Century from 2047 to 2147 focused on deep-sea ports and local shipbuilding.