Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi on Wednesday said that the maritime sector was the bedrock of Pakistan’s economy as 95 percent of its trade was seaborne. The Naval Chief in his message on World Maritime Day (WMD) highlighted the importance of the sector and said it was celebrated each year to underscore the contributions of International Maritime Industry in the world’s economy and to focus attention on the importance of shipping safety, maritime security and marine environment. This year’s theme ‘Seafarers at the Core of shipping’s future’ is intended to pay tribute to the professionalism and resilience of seafarers and recognize their indispensable role in securing vital global supply chains in extraordinarily challenging times. Admiral Niazi said, “However, this realization is yet to permeate in our national reckoning and intellectual discourse. Pakistan navy, being a stakeholder in shaping the maritime thought in the country, is playing its due role in creating the desired maritime awareness and to stimulate exploitations of our immense, though untapped Blue Economy.” He added that Pakistan was blessed with over 1,000-kilometer (km) coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)/ Continental Shelf of 290,000 square km with abundant resources. With CPEC already in motion, he said the maritime activities in Pakistan have increased manifold. “Therefore, the potential of sustainable development in the maritime sector of Pakistan needs to be optimally exploited to contribute towards the national economy,” he underlined. The Naval Chief said that the world economy was facing a major challenge of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which has affected all walks of life. Particularly, he said that it has placed extraordinary demand on seafarers. With thousands stranded on ships for months beyond their original contracts, unable to be repatriated due to national travel restrictions. “Similarly, many are unable to join ships and earn a living. This crew change crisis is a form of humanitarian emergency that threatens the safety of shipping. Travel restrictions and lack of shore leave are adding to the difficulties being faced by seafarers in the ongoing pandemic,” Admiral Niazi added. In order to ease their suffering, he said that there was a need to reflect on the importance of seafarers as a vital human workforce. “In my capacity as Chief Technical Advisor to the Government on all matters connected with Maritimes Affairs, I suggest that seafarers may be designated as ‘key workers’ so as to ensure their travel to and from ships without delays. They may also be enabled priority vaccination for this purpose,” he said. In addition, World Day of Seafarers (25 June) may also be celebrated in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders including Pakistan seafarer, union, for their contribution to the national economy, he recommended. He noted that Pakistan Navy, apart from its core tasks, was fully cognizant of the importance of national human resources driving the merchant fleet around global maritime highways. “In this regard, the wellbeing of future seafarers, their appropriate training and qualification is being ensured at Pakistan Marine Academy,” he informed. “On this important day, we pledge to make concerted efforts for sustainable development of the maritime sector in Pakistan while addressing the associated challenges. In this regard, I look forward to a profound and cumulative response by all stakeholders,” he concluded.