Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal has described Pakistan as a “natural maritime bridge” between the East and the West, stressing the need to harness its full oceanic and coastal potential to drive economic growth.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the second Pakistan International Maritime Expo and Conference (PIMEC 2025), which opened at Karachi Expo Centre on Monday. The event, organised under the overall responsibility of the Pakistan Navy with support from federal and provincial departments, will run until November 6 (Thursday).
This year’s edition brings together representatives from 45 countries, including Pakistan, and features 150 local and 28 global exhibitors. Around 133 international delegations from 44 nations, such as the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, China, Egypt, and Turkiye, are attending, representing regions across Europe, Asia, North and South America, and the Far East.
Highlighting Pakistan’s geostrategic position, Iqbal said the country’s location — where South Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa converge — gives it a unique advantage as a regional maritime hub. Yet, he lamented that the maritime sector contributes less than 1% to the national GDP, compared to 4–7% in other maritime nations.
The minister noted that Pakistan possesses a coastline of over 1,000 kilometres and an exclusive economic zone spanning nearly 290,000 square kilometres, with immense offshore potential in renewable energy, fisheries, and mineral resources.
Iqbal underscored the government’s Uraan Pakistan vision, which aims to transform the country into a $1 trillion economy by 2035 through the 5Es framework — exports; e-Pakistan; equity and empowerment; environment and climate change; and energy and infrastructure.
He said the government had identified eight key drivers of export-led growth:
agriculture and food processing, manufacturing and industry, information technology and digital services, mines and minerals, manpower and skills export, creative and cultural industries, services and tourism, and the blue economy.
“The world’s prosperity literally sails on the seas,” Iqbal remarked, citing the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), which estimates that over 80% of global trade by volume and 70% by value is carried by sea.
He added that the global blue economy contributes more than $2.5 trillion annually to world GDP and supports over 350 million jobs across shipping, ports, fisheries, and coastal tourism.
“In this age of interconnectedness, oceans have re-emerged as the highways of global commerce, energy, and communication,” the minister said, adding that nations that effectively leverage their maritime resources are shaping future economic power.
During his address, Iqbal also described the modern blue economy as one that seeks “God’s bounty through trade, innovation, and exploration while remaining responsible stewards of His creation.”
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, who also attended the inaugural ceremony, termed PIMEC a “great opportunity” that brings together national and international maritime business leaders and opens new investment doors.
“The Sindh government is committed to promoting maritime trade and strengthening ties around the world,” Shah said in his statement.
Experts attending the event observed that Pakistan’s maritime sector has the potential to contribute over $100 billion annually to the national economy and urged swift policy action to unlock its full potential.
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