Khadeja Rehman
ALFRED Mahan once said “whoever rules the waves, rules the world” which is very much true, but how can a state rule the waves if half of its power and strength is left behind on gender biasness. The oceans are the keystone of growth. Pakistan has an extensive 1001km of coastline, a state where nearly half the population is female, the disconnect between the country’s maritime potential and women’s participation is microscopic. From the busy ports to supporting institutions like the Pakistan Navy and maritime academia, women stay significantly underrepresented. The latest survey conducted by IMO and WISTA, said that the total female maritime workforce worldwide is under 19%, with only 1% is serving in seafaring roles. This lag is not merely a function of dwindling numbers but reflects deeper socio economic, cultural and institutional barriers that have kept women on the periphery of an industry integral to national development.
The worst part is it’s not just our country falling behind but the entire globe is facing this constraint, gender gaps persist even in maritime nations with structured inclusion strategies. I feel it’s clear that we live in a patriarchal world where men stay dominant with leadership positions and sea-going operational roles while women are mostly appointed at onshore support roles, including human resources, legal services and communications. With the nanoscopic operational seafaring roles some countries have a female workforce of only 2%. It is veracious that women face challenges like isolation, lack of safety and support, limited access to maritime training and stereotypical assumptions about physical suitability but let’s not forget that its men who have made these limitations contributing to women’s low participation globally.
In Pakistan, this sector is growing immensely peculiarly with projects like CPEC which have resulted in expanded port activities, the maritime sector has now expanded, but sadly women’s roles are still disproportionately limited. Pakistan has not been able to induct women in the merchant navy and to date there is only one-woman nautical graduate and that too from a private nautical training institute at Karachi. On the bright side Pakistan has also taken a few considerable actions in this regard; the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) has the unique distinction of being the only port in the world to deploy women in active and operational security roles. In Pakistan Navy, women are primarily inducted in support roles including education, medical, IT, coordination. Events are organized with the primary goal of inspiring women of Sindh and Balochistan to emphasize how important and timely such efforts still are in mobilizing women toward maritime careers.
Some challenges the women of Pakistan face include specialized maritime education institutions with gender inclusive programs are scarce. Without accessible scholarships, fellowship opportunities or tailored training pathways, women are less likely to advance in maritime careers. Deep-seated beliefs about gender roles, coupled with concerns about women working at sea or in mixed gender environments, contribute to reluctance in hiring or pursuing maritime careers for women. The absence of role models also discourages young women from aspiring to such careers.
Countries seeking progress must learn from those that have successfully addressed similar challenges. For Pakistan, expanding women’s participation in the maritime sector is a matter of strategic foresight, not imitation. According to BIMCO, around 24,000 women are now serving as seafarers worldwide, a 45% increase since 2015. The Philippines has created structured career pathways and gender equality policies that have boosted women’s participation both at sea and ashore. Several EU countries have introduced inclusion policies, mentorship programmes and financial incentives to increase women’s representation in maritime education and leadership. Meanwhile, the IMO’s Women in Maritime programme, under the slogan “Training–Visibility–Recognition,” continues to promote women’s role as vital stakeholders in the global maritime industry.
The maritime gender divide is neither an immutable reality nor a challenge unique to Pakistan, yet the nation’s slow progression demands urgent structural reform and cultural recalibration. Recognizing women not as symbolic participants but as strategic assets in maritime sector can unlock vast reservoirs of untapped national potential. Closing this gap is not merely about representation, it is a geopolitical and economic imperative in an era where command of the seas shapes the destiny of nations.To overcome Pakistan’s maritime gender gap, policymakers, industry leaders and civil society must pursue coordinated and structural reforms. This includes institutionalizing national maritime gender equity policies and strong anti-harassment standards. At the societal level, awareness campaigns highlighting successful women in maritime domain can help challenge entrenched stereotypes. Strengthening mentorship networks and leadership programs, will be crucial for not only attracting women into the sector but sustaining their long-term participation and advancement.
— The writer is Research Assistant, National Institute of Maritime Affairs, Islamabad.
