Chairman Pakistan People’s Party and Federal Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has emphasized the importance of having a vision to meet maritime security challenges of Pakistan and the common goals of peace and stability.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of Pakistan International Maritime Expo and Conference held at Expo Center Karachi, he said that the establishment of international partnership in the maritime domain is inevitable for Pakistan in terms of national security and economic independence. PPP Chairman said that in order to promote of blue economy and curb the threats posed by terrorism, piracy, drug trafficking, human trafficking and arms; international partnership is essential to maintain the security of maritime communication lines.
He said 95% of our trade is carried out by sea, adding that the geo-economic vision of Pakistan has been created keeping in mind the country’s ideal location to act as a hub for trade and energy links and relations between Asia, Europe and Africa. He said that Pakistan has been playing an active role in the Combined Task Force 151 against terrorism, piracy and other illegal activities while Pakistan Navy also has the honor of commanding the said multinational task force on several occasions.
The Foreign Minister said that Pakistan, as a party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, is committed to upholding the rights and responsibilities of States in relation to the governance of the seas, their resources, navigation, rights and freedoms. The current global security environment is full of enormous challenges and there is a need to avoid such geopolitical constructions which are not compatible with the local historical, cultural or geographical realities in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
He added that humanity today cannot afford a divisive approach to the common challenges we all face adding that the challenges of environmental pollution, climate change, global warming and sea level rise have increased. He was sure that the platform of the Pakistan International Maritime Expo and Conference will be used effectively to consider the above issues in depth.
