Nautical Institute Pakistan Branch marks World Maritime Day 2026

KARACHI  – The Nautical Institute Pakistan Branch, on Wednesday, celebrated World Maritime Day 2026 under the theme “From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence”, providing an opportunity to the maritime community to connect, exchange ideas and reaffirm its shared commitment to the development of the sector. The event brought together seafarers, maritime professionals, Pakistan Navy personnel, representatives of port authorities and the wider maritime industry, along with their families. At the main event, the 50th Anniversary of the CILT Pakistan Branch was also celebrated on the occasion.

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Commander Pakistan (COMPAK), Vice Admiral Abdul Munib, speaking at the occasion, appreciated the maritime community for its services to the nation’s progress, highlighting the sacrifices of sailors and seafarers and challenges they face, despite significant advancements.  He stressed that sufficient policies and conventions were already in place for seafarers but steady and practical implementation was vital to prevent accidents.

He said that policy tells us what should be done while practice is what actually happens on the ship and closing the gap between them prevents accidents. He said that excellence at sea cannot be achieved through conferences alone, but by translating policies into practice. He said that Pakistani seafarers are respected around the world and we must keep raising that standard. Investing in our seafarers, in their training, their welfare and their professional standards is the most direct way to turn policy into practice, he opined.  Almost 90 percent of Pakistan’s international trade moves by sea and most of its energy imports come through waters while ports, shipping, and logistic chains are the lifeline of the national economy, Rear Admiral said.

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Pakistan Navy, during the recent geo political situations, took effective measures to safeguard maritime operations and keep our merchant ships moving. “In these turbulent times we have been among the very few navies in this region to step forward and protect our own shipping,” he added. For defence of the frontiers of the country, Pakistan Navy has always demonstrated remarkable preparedness and professional excellence to deter any hostile move against Pakistan’s coasts, ports or shipping, he said and vowed that Pakistan Navy will continue to safeguard the meridian frontiers of Pakistan in war and in peace.

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Managing Director Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works, Rear Admiral Salman Ilyas, highlighted the role of KSY&EW in indigenous shipbuilding and manufacturing of international quality and its transformation from policy to practice.

He, however, lamented that the existing environment and duties are not conducive to the indigenous industry, making it easier to import a ship than to build one locally.

Karachi Shipyard is a cardinal pillar of the blue economy of Pakistan, fully equipped to undertake projects in the field of ship building, shape repair, submarine construction and general engineering with special emphasis to upgrade

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infrastructure, introduce new technologies and tools and improve scale of its manpower to achieve high quality production standards, he stated.

Director General PR, Press Information Department Karachi, Erum Tanveer, shed light on the role of the Blue Economy in Pakistan’s transformation, saying that oceans are increasingly recognized not merely as bodies of water, but as engines of economic growth, food security, energy and climate resilience.

Nations across the world were reorienting their economic strategies around the sustainable use of ocean resources and Pakistan, with more than 1,000 km of coastline, cannot overlook the immense potential of the Blue Economy, which is central to Pakistan’s economic diversification and long term sustainability, she emphasized.

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She stressed the role of the media as an amplifier of policies and highlighted PID’s endeavours as a bridge between policymakers and the general public. She said that PID is not merely a disseminator of policies but also plays a central role in amplifying them to the public, and called upon stakeholders to build partnerships with PID to effectively communicate their policies to the general public.

Chairman, The Nautical Institute, Pakistan Branch, Capt. Farid Masud, highlighted the importance of seafarers and maritime trade and called upon all stakeholders to strive for mutual growth and shared prosperity.

Vice Chairman, The Nautical Institute Pakistan Branch, Capt. Ali Asghar Khan, said that World Maritime Day is not merely a day of celebration; it is a recognition of trade, prosperity and mutual growth. He stressed that all stakeholders must play their part in fulfilling the shared commitment to mutual growth and prosperity.

The inaugural session also featured video messages from Secretary-General of the IMO Arsenio Dominguez, CEO of The Nautical Institute UK Capt. John Lloyd, International Chairman of International Chartered Shipbrokers UK Krishnan Subramanian, and Chief Executive, ISWAN Simon Grainge. The speakers stressed the importance of translating policies into practice to ensure the safety and security of seafarers.

The technical sessions featured paper presentations and an exchange of views on maritime matters, providing an opportunity for participants to discuss maritime issues and consider practical approaches towards strengthening the sector.

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