ISLAMABAD – Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi NI(M) onMonday said thatPakistan Navylink> had formulated robustemployment and development strategies to safeguard national maritimeinterests despite the numerous 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. PrimeMinister 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 and Road Initiative would not only help to revive historicallinks but also contribute towards economic prosperity of the nationsrenewing transcontinental trade routes connecting Asia, Africa, Europe andeven beyond, 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 fewdecades, it has witnessed seismic shift at the geo-strategic level. Whilethis shift was initially security focused, the Belt and Road Initiative wasan 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 haveprofound regional and extra-regional implications as it has drawn attentionfor competition, influence, economic gains 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 link>have catapultedthis domain to the fore-front of our national agenda. It has, therefore,become imperative to undertake integrated development of the maritimesector so as to be able to contribute meaningfully in overall economy ofthe country, he added. The Chief of Naval Staff said that with theexploration and better utilization of marine resources, Pakistan cangreatly expand its economy. The government is taking all possible steps todevelop the maritime sector which will contribute significantly toPakistan’s economy, he added.
While discussing the security dimension of BRI and CPEClink> , and the ensuing expansion ofmaritime economic activity, he stated that they ought to be cognizant ofthe traditional and non-traditional security threats that necessitateeffective security, proactive diplomacy, well considered economic policiesand risk management as important ingredients to exploit and sustain thepace 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 EconomicCorridor (CPEC), flagship project of BRI, will give impetus to the economicprogress and prosperity in the IOR and beyond, he added.