Pakistan is an important maritime state in the Indian Ocean blessed with approximately 1,050 km long coastline and the Exclusive Economic Zone covering about 240,000 sq. The vast coastline of Pakistan naturally offers the option of deep sea water ports which means a much bigger volume of ship could be stationed along the coastline.

1. Ahmad Hassan
IB&M
1/20/2020
Blue Economy of Pakistan
2020

2. Introduction
Yet there is no globally
accepted definition of the term
“Blue Economy”. The concept
of Blue Economy was coined in
2012, at United Nations
Conference on Sustainable
Development Growth held in
Rio de Janeiro. European
Commission defines it as "All
economic activities related to
oceans, seas and coasts.” The
World Bank defines blue
economy as "sustainable use
of ocean resources for
economic growth, improved
livelihoods, and jobs while
preserving the health of ocean
ecosystem”.
Blue economy covers a wide
range of interlinked
established and emerging
sectors that use costal and
marine resources for revenue
generation. It is also known as
also known as “Oceans
Economy”, or “Blue Growth”.
The concept of a blue economy
has different, and often
conflicting, meanings for
different people, resulting in
incompatible or blurred
definitions and applications. It
incorporates all business and
economic occupations
associated with the oceans,
coastal zones, harbours, ports
and other sea-based activities,
as well as overall ocean
ecosystem health and usage.

3. Like Green Economy, Blue Economy is also aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals
of 2014, specifically with the “life below water” article, where the desired outcome is “not
only using the ocean resources for economic opportunities but also protecting and preserving
oceans for the future”.
Oceans cover 72% of planet surface and provide a substantial portion of the global population
with food and livelihood. Since majority of these maritime activities happen in the Indian
Ocean the current focus of Blue Economy supporters is promoting smart, sustainable and
inclusive growth and employment opportunities within the Indian Ocean region’s maritime
economic activities. After near depletion of terrestrial reserves, the developed and near
develop economies have moved towards marine reserves and resources to curb food & water
shortages and buffer unemployment due to automation. Essentially, our survival depends on
healthy seas as dependency of human life increases on them for various dimensions of life.
This concept has also coined a new term called Blue Growth. “Blue Growth is the long-term
strategy to support sustainable growth in the marine and maritime sectors as a whole.” Seas
and oceans are drivers for the European economy and have great potential for innovation
and growth.
The ideal model of a blue economy, therefore, is built around “triple bottom line” decision
making, integrating economic, social and environmental needs for optimal benefits all round.
With a holistic definition in place, the next step is to make it a tangible reality. It looks at a
bigger picture than ocean management and is not limited to shipping or fishery sector but
covers all other sectors as well. These include the issues of sovereignty and security,
sustaining national development, access to food and energy, management of natural
resources, effects of climate change, and resilience in the face of natural disasters.
For companies to adapt this new school of thought operational innovation needs to take
place. As they will have to factor in the new business dynamics and dimensions blue economy
theory brings with it.
Background
Blue growth or blue economy as a term was first conceived during the UN's Rio+20 meeting
in 2012, as a parallel for green economy for the world's oceans. Though the term is relatively
new the concept is quite old. Its traces can be found in the bronze age as the civilizations back
than too used sea and river bodies for transportation and extraction of resources. Recently
“Blue Economy” has become a popular buzz word over the past decade. Drawing from the
notion of a “Green Economy”. The concept has evolved from a "blue aspect of a green
economy" to a paradigm. In it, Oceans and lakes are "development areas" that should be
given an opportunity for sustainable development. It has spun out from the ideology of
Maritime Clusters. Professor Michael Porter defined Maritime Cluster as “a geographically
proximate group of inter- connected companies and associated institutions in a particular
field, linked by commonalities and complementarities (external economies)”. The

4. phenomenon of maritime clusters has spawned a rich body of scholarly work in the last fifteen
years. The blue economy has diverse components, including established traditional ocean
industries to birth of new industries and services.
The Blue Economy goes beyond the Globalized and the Green Economy. All new jobs are
generated in only 10 countries around the world, and 40% of the population earns less than
$3 per day.
Blue Economy in Pakistan
Blue economy is practical and cautious use of oceans and other water resources for the
economic development of a country. Pakistan has an important maritime state in the Indian
Ocean blessed with approximately 1,050 km long coastline and the Exclusive Economic Zone
covering about 240,000 sq. Pakistan’s blue economic growth is heavily dependent on; aquatic
life, agriculture, biotechnology, energy, health and recreational sector. To optimally benefit
from this natural endowment, there is a need for an integrated National Maritime Policy.
Development of effective national compliance mechanism and stimulating renewal of
potential maritime sectors through regional and international collaboration can usher the
country into an era of significant growth. The efficiency of Pakistani ports should be enhanced
by improving the network of rail and road infrastructure. The geostrategic location of Pakistan

5. brings exclusive opportunities for maritime based sectors, as the country has vast maritime
potential with unexplored natural resources. This can be achieved through joint ventures. As
highlighted by Pakistan Navy’s head:
Malaysia and Pakistan can work together to build up a sustainable Blue Economy, as it
will not only strengthen the naval ties between both countries but also bring economic
opportunities. - Pakistan’s Naval Chief, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi
The vast coastline of Pakistan naturally offers the option of deep-sea water ports which means
a much bigger volume of ship could be stationed along the coastline. If Port Qasim and
Gwadar Port are utilized to their maximum potential. Only then the maritime sustainability in
Pakistan can be ensured. Not just that but working at full potential of the ports will depict
success of the CPEC project as it is partially gauged through the development in all the sectors
of the states. Taking example from China, the Maritime Silk Route figures prominently in its
Belt and Road Initiative. One can see that China’s state-owned companies are vigorously busy
in developing its network along the maritime route. While the CPEC project relies mostly upon
the smooth functioning of the ports yet the maritime sector of Pakistan requires proper policy
guidance. There needs to pay a major attention to securing and developing sea routes. As
Pakistan’s trade, economic and technological indicators are showing a hopeful picture, largely
owing to the CPEC project, it is equally important to tap the economic potential of the
maritime sector.
Some work is already underway though such as the completion of the first phase of the
Gwadar Port; the regular shipping service by the China Ocean Shipping Company (Cosco) from
Gwadar; and the decision to develop Keti Bandar Port in Sindh under CPEC, heralds a new
beginning for our stagnant maritime sector and has the potential to embark Pakistan on the
road to Green-Blue Economy.

6. References
Maritime Clusters Are Making The Blue Economy A Sustainable Reality: Economia Azul:
Marinha Do Brasil, URL: https://www.marinha.mil.br/economia-azul/noticias/maritime-
clusters-are-making-blue-economy-sustainable-reality
Making The Blue Economy Sustainable, Natalie Parletta, URL:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/natalieparletta/2019/06/21/making-the-blue-economy-a-
sustainable-reality/
Blue Economic in Pakistan, URL: https://www.scribd.com/document/365718879/BLue-
economic-in-Pakistan-pdf
Blue Economy, The Nation, URL: https://nation.com.pk/09-Nov-2019/blue-economy
Challenges to Pakistan's Blue Economy, URL: https://www.dawn.com/news/1512141
2020