Islamabad: Pakistan and Belgium have agreed to bolster coordination between their maritime institutions and pursue training and exchange programs for students from both countries.

According to Press Information Department, the agreement emerged from a meeting between Belgian Ambassador Idesbald Van der Gracht and Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, held at the ministry. The discussions focused on cooperation in maritime education, institutional linkages, and port development, along with the potential of the blue economy.

Minister Chaudhry highlighted that the Pakistan Marine Academy is being upgraded to a degree-awarding institution, with most of the initiative already completed. He suggested that Pakistani students could benefit from educational opportunities at Belgian maritime institutions, and an exchange program could allow students from both nations to gain valuable experience.

The meeting also addressed Pakistan’s plans to modernize port infrastructure to enhance transshipment activity. Projects discussed included a multipurpose terminal, an automobile zone, and a garment zone at Port Qasim, as well as an energy city for storing oil products. Developments at Karachi Port Trust, including on-dock and off-dock terminals, were also part of the discussion.

Chaudhry emphasized Pakistan’s position for improving regional connectivity through Gwadar Port, linking it with Central Asian countries, thereby opening new avenues for trade and transit. He noted that Pakistan’s maritime infrastructure and geographical position offer significant opportunities for international collaboration.

Both the Belgian ambassador and the minister expressed a commitment to strengthening institutional contacts and identifying practical cooperation areas between the two countries’ maritime sectors.