Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari, in a meeting on Thursday with the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Mr. Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco, underlined Pakistan’s dedication to enhancing its marine ecosystems and addressing pivotal challenges like maritime pollution and climate change. The discussion, which was part of a broader dialogue on environmental conservation and sustainable maritime development, took place at Aiwan-e-Sadr and included key governmental figures.
According to Press Information Department, President Zardari emphasized the adverse effects of maritime pollution on Pakistan’s aquatic life and its fisheries sector. He expressed that the degradation of marine environments was hampering economic growth and stressed the importance of sustainable practices in the maritime and shipbreaking industries. The President articulated that these efforts were integral to Pakistan’s broader development strategy focusing on the blue economy.
The meeting was attended by the Minister for Maritime Affairs, Mr. Qaiser Ahmad Sheikh, Chairperson Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Senator Sherry Rehman, and other senior officials. The President welcomed Mr. Velasco and highlighted ongoing initiatives such as the large-scale mangrove plantation over a million acres in Sindh, the sale of carbon credits internationally, and plans to extend mangrove coverage to an additional two million acres.
President Zardari reassured the attending dignitaries of Pakistan’s commitment to adhering to IMO’s standards and regulations concerning maritime safety, security, and environmental protection. He also expressed enthusiasm for exploring future areas of collaboration with IMO, particularly in technical cooperation and expertise-sharing to further develop Pakistan’s maritime sector.
In response, the Secretary-General acknowledged Pakistan’s significant maritime potential and assured continued support from IMO in fostering sustainable and efficient maritime practices. The President congratulated Mr. Velasco on his election as the 10th Secretary-General of IMO and expressed confidence in his leadership abilities to promote a fair and effective regulatory framework for the global shipping industry.