Islamabad: The federal government has initiated steps to transform the Pakistan Marine Academy into a degree-awarding institution, as announced by Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Wednesday. The minister stated that a summary has been submitted to the prime minister for preliminary approval, marking a key step towards modernizing maritime education in Pakistan.

According to Press Information Department, the consultations with relevant stakeholders have been completed and necessary procedural steps have been fulfilled. Following the prime minister’s in-principle approval, the proposal will be forwarded to the Ministry of Law for legal review before final consideration by the federal cabinet.

Junaid Chaudhry emphasized that the initiative is part of a broader government agenda to enhance the maritime sector and align maritime education with international standards. Discussions are underway with international maritime institutions to introduce dual degree programs, which aim to provide Pakistani cadets with globally recognized qualifications.

The minister highlighted that granting degree-awarding status to the academy would uplift the quality of maritime education, bolster academic and professional training, and produce highly qualified seafarers and maritime professionals. This step is expected to expand educational and career opportunities while supporting Pakistan’s blue economy by developing a skilled workforce for the shipping, ports, and logistics sectors.

He described the planned upgrade as a landmark reform that would strengthen the maritime education framework and help build a globally competitive maritime workforce. The government remains committed to investing in human resource development to ensure the sustainable growth of the country’s maritime industry.