ISLAMABAD – Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi NI(M) onMonday said that Pakistan Navy had formulated robust employment anddevelopment strategies to safeguard national maritime interests despite thenumerous challenges.
He said this while addressing the International Maritime Symposium(IMS-2018) titled “Impact of BRI on the Geo-economics of the Indian OceanRegion (IOR); Prospects for Pakistan, the Region and Beyond” organized bythe Institute of Maritime Affairs (IMA) here at Bahria University.Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi addressed the inaugural session of thesymposium as chief guest. Reputed national and international speakersparticipated in the event.
The Chief of Naval Staff in his inaugural address, while discussing thesymposium’s theme, said that the subject was deep rooted in the remarkabletrade history of the region, which had transcended various races, culturesand religions.In the 21st Century, the conceived ‘Economic Networking’ through Belt andRoad Initiative would not only help to revive historical links but alsocontribute towards economic prosperity of the nations renewingtranscontinental trade routes connecting Asia, Africa, Europe and evenbeyond, he added.
While highlighting the significance of Indian Ocean (IOR) the Chief ofNaval Staff said that IOR has been the global geo-political chessboard andone of the core drivers of world’s prosperity.However, over the past few decades, it has witnessed seismic shift at thegeo-strategic level. While this shift was initially security focused, theBelt and Road Initiative was an attempt to transform it into geo-economics,he added.
In this context, the Chief of Naval Staff said the BRI including theflagship China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, promised hugeinvestments, economic development and consequent socio-economic empowermentof the poverty ridden masses of the region.Nonetheless, BRI will have profound regional and extra-regionalimplications as it has drawn attention for competition, influence, economicgains and security interests, he added.
The Chief of Naval Staff said integrating more and more countries andforging their stakes through an open, coordinated and inclusive arrangementhowever, would contribute towards a more conducive and stable securityenvironment based on the principles of positive gains for all.
He highlighted that they were passing through a momentous era for themaritime landscape of Pakistan. The developments of the recent pastspecially the CPEC have catapulted this domain to the fore-front of ournational agenda. It has, therefore, become imperative to undertakeintegrated development of the maritime sector so as to be able tocontribute meaningfully in overall economy of the country, he added.The Chief of Naval Staff said that with the exploration and betterutilization of marine resources, Pakistan can greatly expand its economy.The government is taking all possible steps to develop the maritime sectorwhich will contribute significantly to Pakistan’s economy, he added.
While discussing the security dimension of BRI and CPEC, and the ensuingexpansion of maritime economic activity, he stated that they ought to becognizant of the traditional and non-traditional security threats thatnecessitate effective security, proactive diplomacy, well consideredeconomic policies and risk management as important ingredients to exploitand sustain the pace of development and potential growth.
With regards to BRI implications in IOR, shift in strategy and boost ineconomic growth of region, Director General Institute of Maritime Afairs(IMA) said the theme of this symposium offered the opportunity to havein-depth analysis of the globally discussed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).Although, the subject was mainly focused on the Geo-economic implicationsof BRI for Indian Ocean Region, the project was widely considered as aninitiative which bears the potential to transform global geo-politicalenvironment as well.
BRI was a shift in strategy to integrate China with the rest of Asia,Europe and Africa, and in the process, build infrastructure across theseregions to boost economic growth of the region.China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), flagship project of BRI, will giveimpetus to the economic progress and prosperity in the IOR and beyond, headded.