Blue economy: green signal, red lines

ISLAMABAD':

The potential of the blue economy is being termed a game changer for Pakistan. Recent surveys and assessments support this claim. The question, however, is which game it is, what the rules are, and more importantly, who the players are.

There are clear signals to harness this potential, particularly through offshore oil and gas exploration. But this may touch strategic red lines given the geopolitical situation along Pakistan's coastline, which dominates the country's geo-economic potential.

The blue economy, which covers all economic activities related to oceans, seas, and coastal areas, holds immense potential for Pakistan. With a coastline stretching over 1,000 kilometres and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of around 290,000 square kilometres, Pakistan is well-positioned