Islamabad: Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal stated that the maritime areas of Balochistan can play a decisive role in the country’s economy, and Gwadar is being developed as a long-term economic platform.
Addressing a meeting on the blue economy, Ahsan Iqbal said that the blue economy can play a key role in Pakistan’s economic development. Despite having a thousand kilometers of coastline and extensive maritime boundaries, its full potential has not been utilised.
Furthermore, Iqbal stated that Gwadar and Karachi ports are being developed for trade links with Central Asia, and attention is needed not only on fishing but also on processing, branding, and marketing.
Other countries have made the blue economy a significant pillar of economic growth through the use of their maritime resources. He added that the maritime areas of Balochistan can play a decisive role in the country’s economy.
The Federal Minister said that the Ministry of Planning has developed the infrastructure for maritime sector projects, Gwadar is being developed as a long-term economic platform, and value addition in fisheries and aquaculture will boost the national economy.
Moreover, he stated that work is also being done on the prospects of the blue economy in the tourism sector, noting that the share of the blue economy in Pakistan’s GDP is only one percent.
In addition, the Federal Minister said that an integrated and solution-focused strategy is being adopted for all maritime projects, and under the ‘Udaan Pakistan’ initiative, the blue economy has been made a strategic pillar of national development.
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