Pakistan has put forward an ambitious initiative to create a permanent “Regional Maritime Dialogue,” aiming to unite nations from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Central Asia, and Africa to collaboratively address mounting maritime threats and help shape global policy.
The significant proposal was unveiled by Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry during a high-level breakfast reception at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Headquarters in London. The event was a major gathering, drawing delegations from over 173 countries, including more than 100 maritime ministers, during the IMO Assembly week.
In his address, the minister emphasized that the rapidly changing global maritime landscape necessitates new regional frameworks to manage emerging technological, regulatory, and environmental issues. He stated that the proposed dialogue would concentrate on critical areas such as reducing carbon emissions, bolstering safety at sea, and improving navigational systems.
The cooperative platform would also seek to enhance coordinated search and rescue operations across the vast region. Minister Chaudhry noted Pakistan’s existing leadership role as the current coordinator for NAVAREA IX, a vital navigational area under the World-Wide Navigational Warning Service that covers the Arabian Sea, Gulf waters, and parts of the Indian Ocean.
To support this vision, Pakistan plans to establish a Regional Maritime University and a Regional Maritime Training Institute. These institutions will be designed to prepare seafarers for future demands driven by autonomous shipping, artificial intelligence, and digitization, with a curriculum focused on AI-enabled training and global STCW compliance.
Furthering its maritime modernization strategy, Chaudhry announced plans to develop a Pakistan-made terminal. He also confirmed that ongoing projects, including accelerated work at the Gwadar-adjacent Gadani shipyard and industrial zone, are in full compliance with IMO regulations.
On the diplomatic front, the minister expressed Pakistan’s intent to deepen cooperation with partners, particularly Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and other nations across the GCC, Central Asia, and Africa. A key objective is to forge a unified regional voice on maritime affairs at international forums, similar to the influence wielded by the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) bloc.
Underscoring the urgency, he stressed that developing and climate-vulnerable countries require stronger representation in global maritime decision-making. Highlighting Pakistan’s recent struggles with severe climate-induced floods, he positioned environmental safeguards, coastal resilience, and blue economy growth as central to the nation’s agenda.
During the event, Minister Chaudhry and IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez also jointly inaugurated a model of the PNSC Ship KARACHI, one of three new vessels the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation plans to acquire.
The minister concluded by reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to collaborating with partner nations to transform the proposed dialogue into a structured, impactful platform spanning three continents, dedicated to strengthening maritime governance and supporting sustainable development.