Islamabad: (Parliament Times) Pakistan Navy observed World Maritime Day (WMD)
2019 on 26 Sep 19 in coordination with International Maritime Organization (IMO).
World Maritime Day is observed internationally during last week of September every
year under the auspices of IMO. The theme adopted by IMO for this year’s World
Maritime Day was ‘Empowering Women in Maritime Community’ aimed at creating
environment and developing career opportunities for women in the maritime domain.
In his message on World Maritime Day, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Zafar
Mahmood Abbasi said that with renewed impetus on maritime sector following the
development of CPEC, maritime activities in Pakistan are bound to increase manifolds.
Therefore, building capacities to capitalize on the economic opportunities offered by
maritime sector, especially participation of women constituting about half of our
population, is considered vital for accruing benefits offered by our maritime potential.
There is a need to create environment and career development opportunities for women
in maritime administration, ports and maritime training institutions which has become a
fundamental imperative for long term development.
Events like World Maritime Day play an important role in enhancing maritime
awareness in the country. On the occasion of WMD-2019, Pakistan Navy undertook a
range of activities to underscore the importance of maritime sector with special
emphasis on the contribution of women in this field in line with the United Nation's
Sustainable Development Goals. A colourful Maritime Gala at Pakistan Maritime
Museum, a seminar on the topic of ‘Empowering Women in Maritime Community’ by
National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA) and to raise awareness about protection of
marine environment harbour cleaning activity were carried out at Karachi.
The officers of Pakistan Navy also delivered lectures at Bahria University and
Kinnaird College Lahore about significance of Maritime Sector and opportunities
available for women in Maritime domain. A tree plantation campaign titled “One Child-
One Tree” was also carried out by students of Bahria Model College Gwadar. Other
activities held in various Pakistan Navy’s units/ establishments and Pakistan Navy’s
administered schools and colleges included Beach Cleaning Campaigns, Awareness
Lectures, Prize Essay and Water Sports Competitions, Talk Shows and Social Media
Campaigns on significance of the day.
On World Maritime Day – 2019, Pakistan Navy pledges its full support towards
development of maritime sector in Pakistan and empowerment of women in various
maritime related fields. Growth in maritime sector would be a step towards attaining
self-sufficiency to accrue true dividends of our Blue Economy.
