Minister of Maritime Affairs Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh has stressed that promoting maritime trade is essential for achieving sustainable economic development.

He was addressing a workshop on National Maritime Policy 2025 in Islamabad today.

The Minister said Pakistan's maritime sector plays a crucial role in the country's economic growth. He said highly skilled teams are operating at Karachi Port Trust, Port Qasim, and other ports, working towards strengthening the maritime economy.

The Minister said a target of 100 billion rupees profit from maritime has been set for this year. He said, under the "Uraan Pakistan" program, the export target has been increased from 32 billion to 60 billion dollars in next four years.

Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh said Pakistan's ports are currently operating at only fifty percent of their capacity, despite their immense potential.

The minister also highlighted that Central Asian countries are rapidly expanding their trade opportunities, but they depend on Pakistan's ports as they lack their own seaports.

He emphasized the need for expanding port capacities in Pakistan, enabling them to accommodate ships carrying up to 20,000 containers instead of handling four containers.

The minister also highlighted that Central Asian countries are rapidly expanding their trade opportunities, but since they lack their own seaports, they depend on Pakistan's ports.

He emphasized the need for expanding port capacities in Pakistan, stating that instead of handling four containers, ports should be capable of accommodating ships carrying up to 20,000 containers. He emphasized that Gwadar Port must be upgraded with world-class facilities to establish it as a modern and fully operational deep-sea port.

The Minister further said Pakistan is attracting significant interest from global maritime companies and investors. He pointed out that while some nations generate forty percent of their GDP from the maritime sector, the global average contribution of the maritime industry to GDP is seven percent. Pakistan, too, can achieve a five percent GDP contribution from this sector.

Regarding fisheries exports, he noted that Pakistan currently earns 400 million dollars from seafood exports, whereas neighboring countries are far ahead in this industry. He revealed that global companies are showing keen interest in investing in Pakistan's fisheries sector. He added that efforts are underway to upgrade the Korangi Fish Harbor, and investment is being made in constructing new auction halls to improve facilities.