How can we defend our waters, when we have yet to understand what they offer? Continuous dereliction of policymakers, scholars and even citizens regarding the sustainable use of oceans to shape the economy, environment, and national security may result in a nation’s disengagement from an increasingly ocean-centric world. Pertaining to this, the ocean literacy has become a strategic necessity rather than a scientific luxury. In broader terms, ocean literacy is a understanding of how ocean affects us, and how we affect the ocean. Moreover for Pakistan, with its expansive coastline, vital trade routes, and underutilized blue economy, such kind of knowledge gap is a lost opportunity.
Pakistan is endowed with over 1,001 km of coastline, an EEZ of almost 240,000 sq. km, and an extended continental shelf of 50,000 sq. Km. However, such geographical access to the sea does not equate to maritime consciousness among a nation’s populace. Our collective maritime awareness is alarmingly limited and this disconnect has ominous economic, strategic, and environmental consequences. And that is where Maritime Security Workshop (MARSEW-8) makes its way as a call to awaken Pakistan’s maritime consciousness.
Globally, ocean literacy is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of sustainable development. By raising awareness of marine ecosystems, sustainable practices, and the ocean’s role in climate, health, and livelihoods, the programme empowers individuals and societies to make informed decisions that safeguard marine resources. This awareness is fundamental to developing sound maritime policy, enhancing national security, and harnessing the economic potential of marine resources.
So why is ocean literacy suddenly everywhere? Because our survival literally depends on it. The ocean has absorbed over 90% of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases since 1970 and 30% of our annual CO2 emissions, buying us time but driving more extreme weather, shifting monsoons, and faster polar ice-melt. At the same time, sea levels are projected to rise 0.3—1.0 m by 2100, putting 600 million people in low-lying coastal zones at risk.
There’s also the blue-economy boom: today, the ocean economy is worth US $1.5 trillion; by 2030, it’s expected to top US $3 trillion, fueled by offshore wind, sustainable aquaculture, and marine biotechnology. Talking about Pakistan, today the “blue economy” pumps in only about 0.4% of GDP while regional neighbors like Malaysia hit 2-3%. Global policy is catching up too. UN member states are committed to the Decade of Ocean Science (2021-2030) and SDG 14, embedding ocean literacy into education and decision-making. Finally, consider the plastic crisis: 8 million tonnes of plastic enter the sea every year and microplastics have reached even the deepest trenches. This confluence of climate stress, emerging economic opportunities, evolving policy frameworks, and escalating marine pollution renders ocean literacy not a discretionary pursuit, but an urgent imperative.
Despite Pakistan’s extensive maritime endowment, ocean literacy remains critically low across the country. A 2022 survey by the National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA) revealed that less than 7% of university graduates from major urban centers had any exposure to maritime-related education. This alarming gap underscores a deeper issue of maritime blindness, rooted in Pakistan’s inland-oriented population distribution and a historical neglect of the sea as a strategic and economic frontier. Even among policymakers and civil servants, maritime awareness is largely restricted to conventional domains such as port operations or naval security, leaving broader aspects like marine ecology, blue economy, and ocean governance severely underappreciated.
Moreover, during the 21st century maritime domains have become pivotal theaters of strategic competition and economic interdependence. And in all this paradigm, the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) lies at the heart of global trade, energy corridors, and military calculus. For Pakistan, whose coastline opens into the Arabian Sea and whose economic future is maritime-bound, this shift is both a challenge and an opportunity.
Pakistan stands at a maritime crossroads, where opportunity through CPEC and Gwadar meets the realities of growing regional naval competition led by India and its strategic partners. While these shifts make the sea more central than ever to Pakistan’s economy and security, the country’s leadership remains largely disconnected from the maritime domain. With ocean literacy alarmingly low, especially among policymakers, Pakistan risks missing the strategic depth and foresight needed to navigate an increasingly contested and climate-stressed maritime region. Bridging this awareness gap is no longer optional, it’s essential for smart, future-focused policymaking.
Here, the eighth sequel of MARSEW tunes in to be a major project of national maritime awakening. This workshop brings together government officials, civil and military bureaucracy, academia, business leaders, media, and think tanks for a deep, immersive exploration of maritime affairs. Technically, this bi-phasic workshop offers an academic module followed by field visits. Moreover, during this activity participants get knowledge about various issues including maritime security, port economics, CPEC’s seaward dimension, climate change impacts, naval modernization, and blue economy development. Additionally, site visits to Gwadar, Karachi Port, Sir Creek, and naval headquarters allow decision-makers to witness the maritime landscape firsthand.
But MARSEW is not just about knowledge sharing; it is about policy incubation. Many alumni of previous workshops now hold senior positions in ministries, academia, and the armed forces — and are instrumental in shaping a more maritime-conscious policy environment. MARSEW’s growing influence has even prompted discussions about formally integrating maritime topics into civil service training programs and university syllabi.
The sea is not a distant horizon, it is central to Pakistan’s identity, economy and strategic future. As global dynamics pivot toward the oceans, Pakistan must respond with informed, forward-looking maritime engagement. MARSEW-8 stands as a crucial step in this direction, not merely a workshop. but a catalyst for cultivating ocean literacy across policy, security, and development sectors. In a world where maritime relevance is rising, Pakistan can no longer afford to look inland. The tide is turning, and with it, our mindset must evolve.
Syeda Fizzah Shuja, Research Associat, Maritime Centre of Excellence (MCE) Pakistan Navy War College (PNWC)
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.