Islamabad, August 11: Pakistan has significant but largely untapped potential for marine tourism, which could become an important component of the country’s blue economy, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said on Tuesday.
Addressing a gathering at the inauguration of a cruise coastal service, the minister said the government was working to transform Karachi into a modern maritime hub by expanding port infrastructure, logistics, tourism and other ocean-based economic activities.
“Karachi is not merely a port city; it is the heart of Pakistan’s maritime economy,” he said, adding that the city had the potential to serve as a hub for ports, logistics, tourism and the wider blue economy, says a press release received from Karachi.
Pakistan’s coastline along the Arabian Sea, stretching across Sindh and Balochistan, offers a range of attractions, including beaches, islands, fishing communities and maritime heritage. Yet the sector remains underdeveloped due to inadequate tourism infrastructure, limited cruise facilities, poor connectivity and growing environmental pressures.
The minister said the introduction of cruise services could help open up the coastline to domestic and international tourists while stimulating investment in hospitality, transport, recreation and other tourism-related businesses.
He said Karachi Port was also being developed as a major transshipment hub as part of the government’s broader maritime vision. Several projects were under way, including a maritime industrial complex and facilities for shipbuilding and ship repair.
Ship recycling and industrial estates were also being promoted to strengthen linkages between maritime activities and the wider industrial economy, he said.
“Reforms in maritime policy, the promotion of ship recycling and the development of the blue economy are also part of this comprehensive vision,” Junaid Chaudhry said.
He stressed that maritime development should not be viewed solely through the prism of cargo handling and port operations, as tourism and other ocean-based activities could generate employment, attract investment and diversify coastal economies.
He said the government’s maritime initiatives were aimed at expanding trade, creating jobs and unlocking the economic potential of the country’s coastline.
The minister, however, acknowledged that sustainable management of coastal ecosystems would be essential for the long-term development of marine tourism. Improved safety standards, better connectivity and investment in tourism infrastructure would also be needed to ensure that increased economic activity did not come at the expense of the marine environment.
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