Assalamualaikum - Pakistan explores sea route to Europe via Romania to grow its blue economy
Assalamualaikum - Pakistan and Romania are looking into creating a maritime connection between Karachi Port and the Port of Constanța on the Black Sea to help boost Pakistan’s blue economy and open trade access to European markets.
Karachi: Pakistan’s maritime sector currently makes up under one percent of GDP, but it’s seen as crucial for the country’s long-term plans to become a regional industrial and trade hub. The government plans to increase the number of working ports from three to six by 2047, keeping Karachi, Port Qasim and Gwadar as main anchors for new shipping and logistics routes linking the Middle East, Central Asia, Eastern Europe and Africa.
The Port of Constanța, one of the biggest on the Black Sea, has direct links into Central and Eastern Europe via the Danube River corridor, which could offer a new path for Pakistani exports to reach EU markets.
Discussions were held in Karachi between the Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry and the Romanian Ambassador Dr. Dan Stoenescu. Rear Admiral Atiq-ur-Rehman, Acting Chairman of the Karachi Port Trust, also took part.
Chaudhry said Pakistan wants a bigger role in global maritime trade by building connections across the region, and that closer ties with Romania could help diversify trade and strengthen Pakistan’s position as a regional maritime hub. He warned that current ports may reach capacity before 2047, highlighting the need for fresh infrastructure and international partnerships.
Both sides talked about cooperation in areas like training, digital port systems, environmental management and capacity building. Chaudhry emphasized the importance of developing a skilled workforce to operate modern port systems as part of Pakistan’s modernization efforts.
The two countries also agreed to deepen collaboration across economic, educational and cultural fields, signaling a growing partnership. Ambassador Stoenescu praised Pakistani exports and noted Romanian interest in importing sports goods, surgical instruments and agricultural products, calling maritime cooperation a practical way to boost regional integration and shared prosperity.
JazakAllah khair for reading - hopeful signs for more jobs and trade if these plans move ahead.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/