In a bold step to tap into its extensive coastal resources and increase economic power, Pakistan announced this weekend that it will create a Maritime Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI). Federal Minister of Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced the move at the Pakistan Business Council Forum in Karachi on Saturday as a direct attempt to address the twin issues of economic development and climate change along the nation’s 1,046-kilometer coastline.
Pakistan’s coastal areas are being placed ever more at risk from rising sea levels, climate-related disasters, and ocean pollution,” Chaudhry warned, citing the necessity of the new chamber. In fact, Arabian Sea waters have been gradually encroaching on vulnerable communities, while sea-level rise is expected to inundate low-lying areas by up to 30 centimeters by 2050 if temperatures continue to rise unabated. Here, policymakers and businesspeople are looking toward the so-called “blue economy”—sustainable blue growth of ocean resources to support economic growth, better livelihoods, and ocean ecosystem well-being—as a lifeline for coastal provinces that are home to almost 60% of the population of Pakistan.
By global estimation, the blue economy can be valued at over $3 trillion. For Pakistan, whose major ports like Karachi and Port Qasim and yet-emerging Gwadar on the southwestern coast contribute more than 90% of national trade by volume, much is riding. Though Karachi Port Complex alone handles nearly 70% of the national cargo, shipping enterprises, fishing, coastal tourism, and marine science lie as untapped opportunities. The new Maritime Chamber will act to consolidate players from shipowners and port terminals to fisherfolk and agritourism farms into one institution and build an umbrella organization with a voice to shape policy and investment.
One of the pillars of the chamber mandate will be creating “greener” ports. Port operations have traditionally been among the largest emitters of carbon dioxide and particulate matter because of cargo gear machinery, bunkering operations, and truck and rail congestion waiting at berths. The MCCI is hoping to encourage retrofits—electric cranes, shore power facilities so idling vessels can be hooked up to onshore electricity, and automated cargo-tracking systems that reduce truck bottlenecks. Through the synergy of digitalization and green technology, Pakistan hopes that its ports will not only be efficient transshipment centers but also green pacesetters of South Asia.
The timing of the migration is synchronous with larger regional goals. Gwadar Port has already received billions of dollars’ investment under the auspices of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), as its deep-water berths provide a safer, shorter trade route to the world market for the geographically landlocked countries of Central Asia. Earlier this year, Kyrgyz traders initiated initial discussions to divert their cotton and minerals via Gwadar, cutting transit time by almost 40% over the conventional routes that went through the Russian railway system. The MCCI platform of inclusive business could simplify such public-private collaborations, providing transparent regulatory channels and eliminating red tape.
Aside from infrastructure, there is another growth area in fisheries. Pakistan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) has an area of around 240,000 square kilometers, ranging from tuna to shrimp. But earlier, excessive fishing and underutilized processing facilities have prevented export prospects from increasing. The home aims to work with marine biologists and local cooperatives to implement sustainable catch quotas, satellite tracking of fishing boats, and cold-chain supply logistics that maintain marine harvests in optimal condition for European and East Asian premium markets. By protecting fish stocks and value-adding through onshore processing, Pakistan can recapture a big slice of the $150 billion global seafood market of 2025.
Coastal tourism, no less than its mainstream economic counterparts, is a top priority on the MCCI agenda. From the blue waters of Kund Malir in Balochistan to the golden beaches of Clifton Beach in Karachi, Pakistan’s coastline offers untapped potential for eco-resorts, snorkel trips, and homestays in the midst of cultural heritage. Engaging local populations and ensuring environmental protection—such as mangrove replanting along the Indus Delta—the chamber hopes to create a model of tourism that is attuned to economic needs as well as nature’s balance.
The Pakistan Business Council welcomed the opening of the Maritime Chamber as a “step towards building a climate-resilient and economically prosperous maritime economy.” True enough, international shipping paradigms are changing as countries switch to cleaner sources of energy and data currents. With the shift in context, the strategic position of Pakistan—positioned at the intersection of South Asia and the Middle East—can be turned into an asset if supplemented by visionary policymaking.
As Chaudhry would put it, “This chamber will not only drive investment and innovation in the maritime economy but also guarantee port sustainability, green technologies, and carbon reduction efforts.” Whether it is battery-operated yard cranes humming in Karachi ports, satellite-monitored fishing boats plying the EEZ, or eco-friendly resorts on the beaches of Balochistan, the vision remains the same: to create a blue economy trajectory that is both booming and sustainable. As Pakistan sets out on this ambitious undertaking, the world will wait nervously to see how far the Maritime Chamber can convert such ideals into practical achievements—both for the present generation and for posterity.
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