ISLAMABAD, Sept. 2, 2026: Pakistan and Belgium have agreed to strengthen coordination between their maritime institutions and explore training and student-exchange programmes, as Islamabad seeks to expand cooperation in maritime education, shipping, logistics and port services.
The understanding was reached during a meeting between Belgian Ambassador Idesbald Van der Gracht and Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry at the ministry, according to the government spokesperson.
The two sides discussed cooperation in maritime education, institutional linkages, port development and the broader potential of the blue economy, he said.
Chaudhry said Pakistani students could benefit from training and educational opportunities at Belgian maritime institutions. Under a proposed exchange programme, students from both countries would have opportunities to learn from each other's experience and expertise.
The minister also said the Pakistan Marine Academy was being upgraded into a degree-awarding institution and that most of the work on the initiative had been completed, the official said.
Port expansion plans
The discussion also covered Pakistan's plans to expand and modernise its port infrastructure. Chaudhry said the government was working to increase transshipment activity at Pakistani ports and was pursuing projects to expand their commercial and industrial capacity.
At Port Qasim, the projects cited by the minister included a multipurpose terminal, an automobile zone and a garment zone. He said the automobile zone would also involve refurbishment work, while the garment zone would support development of an industrial park at Port Qasim.
Pakistan and Belgium have agreed to explore new avenues in port development and the blue economy@ForeignOfficePk #RadioPakistan #news https://t.co/4LIVqTqvjG pic.twitter.com/8DikPcfAxw
— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) September 2, 2026
Chaudhry further said an energy city was planned to provide storage facilities for oil-producing countries, including for white oil, crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas. At Karachi Port Trust, he said the government was also working on on-dock and off-dock terminals.
Gwadar and regional connectivity
Chaudhry also said Pakistan wanted to improve regional connectivity through Gwadar Port by linking it with Central Asian countries, which he said could create new opportunities for trade and transit, according to the government spokesperson.
He said Pakistan's expanding maritime infrastructure and geographical position offered opportunities for international cooperation in shipping, logistics, port services, maritime education and other areas of the blue economy.
Focus on practical cooperation
The Belgian ambassador and the minister expressed a desire to further strengthen institutional contacts and identify practical areas of cooperation between the maritime sectors of the two countries.
The proposed training and student-exchange programmes would provide a basis for closer institutional engagement between the two countries' maritime sectors, while the discussions on ports, logistics and regional connectivity broadened the scope of potential cooperation.
