By Dr. Nazia Sher
The oceans are no longer simply spaces for shipping and trade. They are increasingly central to national security, food security, environmental protection, international law and economic development. For Pakistan, with its strategic location in the Indian Ocean and dependence on maritime trade, maritime diplomacy is a national priority, not merely a foreign-policy subject.
Maritime diplomacy provides a mechanism through which states protect their interests, manage shared risks and build cooperation at sea. Many maritime challenges—piracy, maritime terrorism, trafficking, IUU fishing, marine pollution and search and rescue—cannot be addressed by one country alone. Common waters create common risks, and common risks require cooperation.
International maritime law provides the foundation for this cooperation. IMO conventions establish common standards for maritime safety, environmental protection and shipping. MARPOL remains the principal international convention addressing pollution from ships, while the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 provides international standards for the working and living conditions of seafarers.
For Pakistan, however, the real challenge is not participation in international frameworks; it is implementation. A treaty, convention or international commitment creates value only when it is translated into domestic action, stronger institutions, better monitoring and measurable results.
Fisheries diplomacy is one important example. Pakistan has been a member of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) since 27 April 1995. Participation in regional fisheries management gives Pakistan an important platform to engage in decisions concerning tuna resources, sustainability and responsible fisheries management.
The Port State Measures framework provides another practical dimension of cooperation against IUU fishing. Vessel information, port inspections, documentation, traceability and enforcement are interconnected tools. The effectiveness of such mechanisms ultimately depends on national capacity, reliable data and effective enforcement.
A new chapter of ocean diplomacy has also emerged with the BBNJ Agreement, which entered into force on 17 January 2026. The agreement establishes an international framework for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, including marine genetic resources, area-based management, environmental impact assessments, capacity-building and transfer of marine technology.
For Pakistan, this creates an opportunity to strengthen marine scientific cooperation and technical capacity. But participation should not become symbolic. International engagement must bring knowledge, technology, research collaboration and institutional capacity back into the country.
Maritime diplomacy also has a human dimension. Seafarers are central to global shipping, and international cooperation must protect their safety and working conditions. The IMO and ILO marked the 20th anniversary of the Maritime Labour Convention in 2026, reaffirming its importance for decent work and seafarer welfare.
The same principle applies to maritime security. Recent disruptions to international shipping have demonstrated how quickly regional conflicts can affect global maritime routes and seafarers. In July 2026, the IMO Council reaffirmed the importance of freedom of navigation and transit passage through international straits.
Pakistan therefore needs to move from maritime diplomacy as dialogue to maritime diplomacy as delivery. Four priorities are particularly important: better coordination of Pakistan’s positions in international maritime forums; stronger linkage between international commitments and domestic implementation; greater investment in marine science, fisheries data and technical capacity; and partnerships that deliver technology transfer, training, joint research and institutional strengthening.
The concept of a Blue Economy must also be protected from becoming merely a slogan. Blue growth without environmental responsibility, scientific evidence and institutional capacity cannot provide sustainable maritime development.
Pakistan has maritime institutions, international partnerships and access to important regional and global forums. The next step is to connect these assets.
The success of maritime diplomacy should not be measured by how many meetings we attend or agreements we sign. It should be measured by what changes on the ground—safer seas, stronger fisheries governance, protected marine ecosystems, better opportunities for seafarers, stronger institutions and greater economic value from our maritime sector.
Pakistan’s maritime future will depend not only on how effectively we engage with the world’s oceans, but on how effectively we turn international cooperation into national action.
About the Author
Dr. Nazia Sher, Research Associate
National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA), Bahria University, Karach
