Staff Reporter
Pakistan has not been able to fully exploit the potentials
of its maritime boundary despite the fact that the nature has bestowed the country with ample marine
resources. Pakistan is gifted with 1050 km coastline and ranks 74th most favorable country out of 142
countries with regard to strategic maritime location. Yet, the country falls short of having an all-
encompassing maritime policy and strategy that is needed to exploit the true potential. Lack of strategic
maritime vision has made Pakistan suffer perennially from sea blindness which is also known as
maritime blindness.This was heard at the 1st day of the Maritime Winter School 2020 (MWS2020) being
held by Maritime Study Forum (MSF)in collaboration with National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA)
and National Centre for Maritime Policy Research (NCMPR) at Bahria University Karachi. This is a five day
workshop that will continue till Friday January 24, 2020.At the MWS 2020, experts and practitioners will
be deliberating at length on the issues Pakistan is facing in maritime domain. The experts include Dr Syed Mohammad Anwer, President MSF, Khurram Mirza, Executive Director PNSC, Commodore (r) Syed
Obaidullah, founder NCMPR, and others. The Maritime Winter School 2020 is themed along five topics
including: Understanding Maritime and Coastal Communities, Maritime Economy and Policy, Marine
Resources and Hydrography, Maritime Security and Diplomacy, and Maritime and Media. The objective
behind holding the MWS 2020 is to bring forth the pressing issues Pakistan is facing in the maritime
sector and make them part of academic discourse. In addition, this exercise will also encourage young
researchers and scholars to carry out research in the maritime sector and contribute towards boosting
national economy of Pakistan by coming up with research-based solutions.
