Maritime Awareness in Pakistan

Lt Cdr M A R Khokher PN makes a plea for enhancing knowledge about Pakistan’s maritime resources.

The exploitation of sea resources plays an important role in the economic prosperity and development of a nation and ultimately contributes to its strong defence. Every maritime state acknowledges the significance of her maritime assets and exploits the resources up to her optimum endeavours. The value of such resources have varied from country to country but never diminished.

Pakistan, in spite of having direct access to the sea, has not been able to use the sea and its resources to her full advantage mainly due to lack of maritime awareness. Pakistan’s maritime sector is a vital component of our national economic and military power. The open sea provides us with the opportunity for free unhindered commerce and access to the countries round the globe. It is time for Pakistan to take comprehensive and adequate steps to develop maritime awareness in the nation. Sea in the backbone of a nation’s economic activity. Sooner or later, we have to turn towards sea to extract its riches to meet our demands. Pakistan, being an economically weak and developing state must accord higher priority to maritime sector to gain adequate economic benefits. Maritime power, which not only includes maritime defence but also ports and harbours, merchant ships and its related infrastructure. All these elements need an immediate attention for improvement. Further delay in this regard means failure in economic growth/development and weak defence of the sea frontier of the country.

Pakistan has a wide-ranging list of maritime compulsions, which are briefly summarized as under:-  

a.            Pakistan occupies a very important position on the vital trade and oil supply routes from the Persian Gulf to Pakistan’s location is also not far from the Red Sea. This geographical location provides an opportunity to Pakistan to dominate the crucial stretches and vital routes across the Arabian Sea.

b.            Pakistan’s coastline stretches to about 960 Km, which can be explored and developed into new ports, tourist resorts and industrial sites.

c.            Pakistan’s Exclusive Economic Zone is spread over 240,000 Sq. Km, which is larger than any of her provinces, is still awaiting for the availability of resources for exploitation of its potential.

d.         Over 97% of our trade, which among others include 75% oil from Gulf is carried out via sea. The heavy dependence on imports may seriously undermine economic stamina, which is highly susceptible to interruption. Directly linked with such a dependence is the war stamina of the country.

e.         In the years to come, Central Asian States which have a large amount of known oil and gas reserves and may like to export these through our ports.

f.            Pakistan’s imports/exports are completely dependent on Karachi port. It is not only our major port but also the hub of industrial activities and it is known as “Economic Engine” of Pakistan. However, there are numbers of other natural harbours available along our coast, which after investing some capital can be converted into major ports and can thus share Karachi’s burden.

g.         The sea is now acting as our heart, which is pumping life in our economy through our exports/imports. However, we are not yet exploiting the full potential of this vast reservoir of natural resources.

There are many reasons for lack of maritime orientation in our nation. The reasons span over a broad spectrum ranging from demographic and socio-economic features on one hand and the non-availability of technological base on the other. These are further compounded by the lack of understanding and attention paid towards maritime sector. Concentration of all port facilities in and around Karachi is another big dilemma in the  proliferation of aquaculture in Pakistan. Pakistan has not deliberated as yet to exploit her maritime potential to her advantage. Admiral Alfred T  Mahan an American maritime thinker in his book “The Influence of Sea Power upon History” brought out six elements, which are mandatory to make a Maritime State into a “Sea Power”. As per his theory, Pakistan enjoys an advantageous position and has all the potential to become a maritime state. Our physical conformation in its present state can be improved upon by developing our maritime infrastructure along the coast.

Pakistan’s failure to develop maritime potential over the last fifty years has caused a serious dent in our economy apart from vulnerability in the security of Pakistan. We may continue to pay a high price for such failures if the realization at this stage is not developed and appropriate measures are not taken to redress the situation. The sooner the nation manages to gain control over the prevailing environment, the better it will be for economic stability and maritime defence. Main causes for lack of maritime orientation in our nation are discussed as under:

a.            Inherited Character. In the recorded history of India, there is no mention of any expeditions sent across the shores or trade links through the seas except in Hindu mythology that Raam went to Lanka to rescue Seeta. Ancient civilization, which flourished in India, were along the rivers and plains and not along the coastline, which generally explains the inability to develop maritime awareness. This indicates that at national level, we are inclined much more towards land than sea and it could easily be said that we are not a sea faring nation.

b.            Exposure to Sea. The coast of Balochistan is about 410 NM. Unfortunately, whole coastline is desolate and scantly populated. Most of the people of the area have shifted towards north and Karachi due to non-availability of resources at our coastal areas. Out of 140 million people of Pakistan, very few are exposed to sea, because of being miles away from it.

c.            Maritime Knowledge. History taught in our schools and colleges deals mostly with the exploits of man on land and seldom about the role of sea power in shaping the destinies of various empires that have come and gone. Thus masses are unaware of sea and its potential. Therefore, when they take up positions in practical life, they cannot visualize the importance of sea and automatically their thinking becomes land-locked.

d.            Financial Constraints. This has been a major factor, which has denied the country its right to grow as a maritime nation, even if the will to do so was there. Right on the outset, Pakistan faced a tremendous pressure due to a financial setback. Financial austerity measures were enforced, to support defence forces to ensure security of Pakistan. Navy is the most expensive among three Services. Pakistan kept spending large amounts on its defence forces, whereas on the other hand, it failed to look after revenue generating elements i.e. merchant ships, ports and harbours and other maritime related areas. Acquiring merchant ships and constructing harbours and ports need huge resources. Unfortunately, the people at the helm of affairs failed to exploit the situation in the favour of Pakistan. Thus financial constraints have always played a role in slowing down the progress of the maritime sector.

e.         Land-Locked Thinking at All Levels. Government policy makers’ knowledge about maritime affairs is limited because most of our high-ranking officials in civil or Armed Forces belong to areas, which are far away from the sea. Similarly an average Pakistani has no access to the sea because of the same reason. Therefore, the attitude and thinking is obviously land-oriented and such thinking influences their decisions. This is one of the major causes, which has affected the progress is the Maritime sector.

f.            Pakistan’s Maritime Policy and Defence Planning. Defence is not achieved by physical force alone; it is secured through sea power. There is a need to have a national maritime policy, which should be constantly reviewed in the light of ever-changing geo-strategic and geopolitical situation. No policy will succeed unless there is a change in the attitude of our people, especially those in position of power and influence. The nation should be made aware of the wealth of the hidden maritime resources, which has not been exploited so far. Our defence is based on territorial aspects with the nation that the sea will defend itself. Resultantly, the attention accorded to this aspect has been inadequate.

g.            Communication Network. The absence of a communications network and other basic facilities in the coastal areas has further aggravated the bad situation e.g. as the marine catch from far-flung areas cannot be timely transported to the major markets.

h.            Maritime Legislation. It is unfortunate that we have totally disregarded the need for a modern maritime policy during last five decades. Merchant shipping policy was prepared in 1995 but the same has not been even presented before National Assembly for legislation. Furthermore, Karachi Port Trust has been governed through KPT Act - 1886. But the same has been amended only recently by an ordinance. The legal provisions concerning maritime activities of Pakistan i.e. KPT Act 1886, Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1925, Merchant Act 1923, Marine Insurance Act 1938, Carriage of Customs Act 1996 and Admiralty Jurisdiction of the High Court Act 1969 are substantially outdated and need immediate replacement with a revised and updated version.

Following are the major reasons, which indicate that there is an acute need in Pakistan to understand the importance of maritime sector:

a.         Land resources with respect to population of the world in general and in developing countries in particular, are depleting very fast. This situation will force us to chart a new course towards the resources of the sea.

b.         No permission is required to use international waters as required in case of land boundaries and airspace.

c.            Maritime nation has edge over land-locked countries, mainly due to better economic opportunities, which ultimately results in strong defence

d.            Pakistan has about 960 Km coastline, which is a door towards the riches of the Arabian Sea.

e.         EEZ, the largest province of Pakistan is full of resources which cannot be exploited without maritime awareness.

f.          Sea is a cheap mode of transportation as compared to rail, road and air.

g.         With the strategic location conferred upon Pakistan as a result of her geography, the enviable access to the Muslim nations of the region must serve as a platform for forging greater unity.

Pakistan is a maritime state, with wide ranging maritime assets/potential. Unfortunately the riches that accumulate with development of Maritime Sector, have been denied to Pakistan due to land oriented mindset of our decision-makers. It is nothing, but lack of comprehension and farsightedness. Now, time has come that we should pay immediate attention towards this sector and try to make up years of neglect. It only requires the understanding of the subject on the right line and adopting a positive attitude for the promotion of maritime awareness is our nation.

Free access to the sea is the gift of nature to our country. It can safely be said that maritime affairs must be given a very important place in our national policies. The present economic situation of the country is also compelling us to enhance the maritime awareness amongst the people of our country. It is high time to change our land-oriented thinking. We must lay down a positive maritime policy workable within our financial resources and to develop maritime infrastructure along the coastline. It is needed to exploit our EEZ to the maximum benefit. Sea can provide us much needed economic prosperity with much less investment and ultimately it can contribute to strong defence.