ISLAMABAD, October 29, 2026: Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf reaffirmed Pakistan Navy’s commitment to safeguarding vital sea routes and promoting regional stability through international cooperation as the fifth International Maritime Symposium concluded at Bahria University, Islamabad, on Thursday.
Organised by the National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA), the International Maritime Symposium 2026 (IMS-26) brought together diplomats, senior civil and military officials, policymakers and international experts to discuss emerging maritime security challenges and changes in the global maritime order.
The symposium was held under the theme “Eroding Rules-Based International Order at Sea and Maritime Security Paradigm 2.0.”
Admiral Naveed Ashraf attended the first session as chief guest, which focused on the geopolitics of global maritime spaces and the international order at sea.
Addressing the gathering, the naval chief reiterated Pakistan Navy’s commitment to maintaining a rules-based maritime order, securing vital sea lines of communication and strengthening regional stability through international partnerships.
He expressed confidence that the symposium would contribute to meaningful dialogue and practical strategies for improving maritime security, ocean governance and adherence to international maritime law.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry attended the second session as chief guest, which focused on Pakistan’s maritime future, ocean governance and the development of the blue economy.
Participants examined security challenges in the Indian Ocean, the growing role of artificial intelligence and autonomous technologies, port resilience and opportunities for sustainable maritime development.
Experts highlighted vulnerabilities along major shipping routes, particularly near the Strait of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb, while discussing threats posed by cyber warfare, emerging technologies and unregulated exploitation of marine resources.
The discussions also emphasised freedom of navigation, regional cooperation and the importance of international maritime law in maintaining stability at sea.
Speakers acknowledged Pakistan Navy’s contributions to multinational maritime security initiatives and highlighted Gwadar’s potential as a regional connectivity hub.
Earlier, NIMA President Rear Admiral Javaid Iqbal (Retd) welcomed participants and stressed the need for stronger international cooperation to address growing geopolitical and technological threats.
He also called for improvements in ocean governance and maritime legal frameworks, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The symposium featured keynote addresses by former Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat (Retd) and Ambassador Sardar Masood Khan.
Other speakers included senior naval officers and maritime experts from Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Poland and Türkiye, alongside representatives of Pakistani universities, maritime institutions and legal organisations.
Among the participants were Karachi Port Trust Chairman Rear Admiral Shahid Ahmed, Quaid-i-Azam University Vice Chancellor Dr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics Vice Chancellor Dr. Muhammad Nadeem Javaid and legal expert Ahmer Bilal Soofi.
The symposium concluded with a call for practical measures to strengthen international maritime cooperation, regional stability and sustainable ocean governance.