Gwadar Showcases Maritime & Blue Economy Potential at PIMEC 2025, Spotlighting Port City’s Smart Development Vision
Independent Report
Karachi, Nov 4:
The Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) highlighted Gwadar’s emergence as a regional maritime and economic hub at the Pakistan International Maritime Expo and Conference (PIMEC 2025), underscoring the port city’s strategic significance and its Blue Economy potential under Pakistan’s coastal development vision.
The second edition of PIMEC was inaugurated by Federal Minister for Planning and Development, Ahsan Iqbal, at the Karachi Expo Centre. Organized by the Pakistan Navy, the four-day event runs until November 6, bringing together participants from over 44 countries to foster maritime cooperation, investment, and innovation, Gwadar Pro reported.
Representing GDA, Deputy Director Town Planning Abdul Razaq is leading the delegation, accompanied by Nasir Raja and Engineer Nazia Baloch.
The GDA pavilion attracted significant attention from investors, maritime experts, and delegates eager to learn about Gwadar’s transformation under the Smart Port City Master Plan 2050.
“Our participation at PIMEC reflects Gwadar’s rising profile as a smart, sustainable port city at the crossroads of global trade routes,” GDA said. “We aim to highlight the city’s rapid development, geo-economic importance, and the immense opportunities offered through the Blue Economy.”
The display featured development models and visuals of ongoing infrastructure and coastal sustainability projects, emphasizing Gwadar’s potential in logistics, fisheries, and tourism. Visitor response was “overwhelmingly positive,” acknowledging the port city’s growing role in Pakistan’s maritime economy.
During the inauguration, Ahsan Iqbal highlighted Pakistan’s 1,000-kilometer coastline and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of nearly 290,000 square kilometers, noting that the maritime sector contributes less than 1 percent to the national GDP, compared with 4–7 percent in other maritime nations.
“Gwadar’s story is one of transformation and opportunity,” the GDA said. “Through platforms like PIMEC, we are promoting the city’s potential while fostering regional integration and sustainable maritime growth.”
PIMEC 2025 also features business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) meetings, alongside the International Maritime Conference organized by the National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA). The conference, themed “Harnessing Blue Economy Potential for Sustainable Development,” gathers experts to explore strategies for sustainably unlocking Pakistan’s maritime resources.
