Islamabad
Senate Standing Committee on Maritime Affairs on Wednesday expressed concerns over the problems faced by the residents of coastal areas of Sindh and Baluchistan. According to details, committee’s meeting was held Wednesday under the Chairmanship of Senator Rubina Khalid.
During the meeting, committee members expressed their concern on the problems faced by the residents of coastal areas of Sindh and Baluchistan. “We need schools and clean drinking water for children” stated Senator Naseema Ehsan while lamenting the condition of the local people around the coastal areas.
According to details, committee was briefed on Blue Economy, its major sectors and initiatives by the Ministry to spearhead the Blue Economy.
Secretary Ministry of Maritime Affairs, while reacting to questions raised by committee members said the issue lied in domain of the Provincial Government. Senator Moula Bux Chandio proposed that the Ministry should write to the Provincial Government to address the problem of clean drinking water and other concerns of the local residents near the coastal areas.
Secretary Ministry of Maritime Affairs, while briefing the committee about Blue Economy, stated that the estimated value of ocean assets around the world is about 24 trillion US $ and world have ranked Blue economy 7th if measured with top 10 global economies (WWF-2015).
The Committee was informed that after the approval of claim by United Nations Commission on the Limits of the continental shelf in 2015, Pakistan has achieved a maritime territory of 350 N (nautical miles), which comprises 200 N of Exclusive Economic zone (EEZ) and an area of 150 N as continental shelf. The maritime sovereignty of Pakistan has been established on the total area of 290,000 sq. Kilometers, which makes up 36.4 percent of the mainland of the country.
Committee was further informed that CPEC has brought forward potential prospects of development along the Makran Coast which will pave way for maritime tourism and aqua/Mari-culture contributing to the National Economy.
Committee was also informed that Maritime Ministry was working in collaboration with the World Bank to advance the development of Blue Economy Road map.
The Committee recommended the Ministry to also work in collaboration with the World Bank to launch a project for the provision of clean drinking water for the people of coastal areas.
The Committee was also informed that up to 40-45 Chinese companies are being dislocated from China and anticipated to set up their plants in Pakistan. Gwadar port and free Zone tax exemptions have also been approved in Finance bill 2020-21.
