President NIMA keynote address at IMC 26 in Lahore

26 Feb 2026:   Rear Admiral Javaid Iqbal HI(M) President, National Institute of Maritime Affairs, Islamabad, Pakistan gave a keynote address
Addressing IMC’26, Rear Admiral Javaid Iqbal emphasized that maritime security and the Blue Economy are inseparable, particularly at a time when the global rules-based order is facing significant shifts. He highlighted that with 90% of global trade conducted via sea routes and nearly 100% of global data transmitted through undersea cables, oceans have become the new strategic frontier of economic growth and security vulnerability.
He noted that as maritime trade is projected to triple by 2050, challenges such as illegal maritime activities, geopolitical competition in the Indian Ocean, deep-sea mining disputes, and technological disruptions are reshaping the maritime security landscape. Stressing Pakistan’s strategic importance in the region, he underscored the need to accelerate the realization of Pakistan’s Blue Economy potential through Gwadar development, CPEC 2.0, expansion of ports and shipping capacity, green shipbuilding and recycling, fisheries enhancement, coastal tourism, and offshore resource exploration.
Referring to Pakistan’s Maritime Vision 2047–2147, he highlighted the goal of building a $100 billion Blue Economy by 2047, urging policymakers to convert vision into actionable strategies with strong implementation and accountability. Concluding his address, he reaffirmed that Pakistan’s maritime future is both green and blue, provided the nation commits to sustainable, secure, and forward-looking development.