With the increase in world population the land based natural resources are depleting fast. Many countries with sea front have now embarked on a comprehensive plan to exploit the sea based resources. The world sea area being three times that of earth , it is believed that the sea based oil and mineral resources are also that much more. Pakistan is blessed with over a 1000 kms of coast line . Also in March last year , the Continental Shelf was extended from 200 NM to 350 NM by the UN Commission on the limits of Continental Shelf (UNCLCS). It means that Pakistan now has exclusive fishing and mineral exploration rights in an area extending 350 NM , South of our coastline. The total area of this Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is roughly over 3,00,000 sq km , which is as much the area of Baluchistan.
So far there have been no worthwhile efforts made for exploration of sea based oil and mineral wealth, probably due to our land-based mindset. We only have about 2000 out-dated fishing trawlers still using small nets to catch fish. There is a dire need for a comprehensive maritime strategy to fully benefit from this vast sea area which is potentially rich in oil and gas deposits and other minerals besides modernising our fishing trawlers for enhanced fish catch. The earlier the better.
CDRE (R) SAJJAD ALI SHAH BOKHARI,
Islamabad, January 5.