Islamabad: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has urged the alignment of educational policies with the needs of the blue economy to foster a skilled workforce and support sustainable economic growth. His remarks came during a meeting with Bahria University Rector Vice Admiral (retd) Engr Abid Hameed, where they discussed enhancing maritime education and professional skills.

According to Press Information Department, the minister highlighted the potential collaboration between the Pakistan Marine Academy (PMA) and Bahria University as a means to address the shortage of skilled human resources through specialized academic programs and capacity-building initiatives. He also noted that the process of granting degree-awarding status to PMA is nearing completion, aiming to elevate professional maritime education to international standards.

The meeting also explored the creation of the Maritime Educational Endowment Fund (MEEF) to support higher education in maritime disciplines, particularly for students from coastal areas. The fund is projected to build a Rs25 billion scholarship corpus over a decade, benefiting approximately 65,000 students nationwide.

Minister Chaudhry emphasized the importance of maritime education in light of Pakistan’s potential in various ocean-based industries. He referred to a 2024 study indicating the ocean economy’s contribution to Pakistan’s GDP and identified challenges such as inadequate infrastructure and unsustainable practices.

The proposed academic partnership aligns with United Nations initiatives and Sustainable Development Goals, promoting ocean research and sustainable resource management. Vice Admiral Hameed expressed Bahria University’s readiness to collaborate with PMA to advance maritime education and research, underscoring the need for stronger ties between educational institutions and the maritime industry.