KARACHI: Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Zakaullah on Saturday sai
d that Pakistan Navy is fully capabl
e of dealing with all kinds of challenges.
He was addressing the inaugural session of 7th International Maritime Conference. He also sai
d that strategic changes continue to occur in the region which increases the need of maritime
security.
The chief of naval staff sai
d that Pakistan Navy is cooperating with navies of other countries for the protection of the territorial waters as no country is capabl
e of doing it on their own. He expressed his optimism that the conference will prove to be effective.
Zakaullah also said, “The eyes of the world are set on the
security of the sea routes for promotion of trade as there are several dangers in the seas which includes drug smuggling.”
He added, “The country’s economy can be improved by making the sea routes secure.”
He also sai
d that a special force has been created for the
security of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Gwadar Port to ensure that it has a positive impact on the country’s economy and the country develops.
Addressing the opening session of the confe
rence, Azad Kashmir President Masood Khan said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has furthered the need for augmenting maritime
security. He said all naval forces across the world have a pivotal role in maritime
security.
Addressing the conference the adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz sai
d that nuclearisation and militarization of the Indian Ocean poses a grave threat to the regional peace and
security.
He was addressing the opening session of the seventh international maritime conference in Karachi today.
Highlighting the significance of the Indian Ocean, Sartaj Aziz sai
d that the Indian Ocean provides connectivity to the Middle East, Africa and Australia with Europe.
The adviser said Pakistan has strategic
stakes in peaceful navigation of cargoes in the Indian Ocean because of Gwadar Port and CPEC. He said the government is taking all the requisite steps to ensure maritime
security in the ocean.
The adviser emphasized the need for turning the Indian Ocean into a zone of peace and prosperity to benefit the whole region. He warne
d that any rivalry in the ocean would only impede the process of development. He said all the regional countries have an important role to develop common bonds for sustainable development.
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