Ever wondered waiting in a long queue to refuel your vehicle as how does this fuel come to your city and what would happen if it cannot be delivered for a few days? Oil tankers, most of us know, transport petroleum from Karachi to all corners of Pakistan but many of us might not know how does it end up in Karachi and what all it takes to ensure it gets there safely and securely. This area is related to what we call 'maritime security'. Much has been written and talked about the concept and let me say the idea of 'maritime security' but plenty remains to be figured out as to what 'exactly' does it mean? Before we expound on the phrase, we should agree on the term 'security'that: it is a state of being free from threat or danger. The maritime security would then, in a very simple manner, mean: our seas, and the waters connected with the seas, remain free from those activities which could threaten its use for economic, military and scientific purposes. Some of these 'activities' include terrorism, piracy, armed robbery, human smuggling, drug trafficking, gun running, poaching, acts causing marine pollution, to name a few. Some call these activities as 'non-traditional'threats and choose to assign those in the calculus of threats worth responding by the naval forces. It is important, nonetheless, to comprehend why sea and maritime security matter these days. Simple statistical facts would reveal the concerns that the people of Pakistan should know. Our 95% trade is totally dependent on the sea, imagine a scenario when this path is blocked, or for some reasons, cannot be used. Our industries, exports and imports would come to a grinding halt as transportation of goods to and from other countries via land and air routes is not only expensive, it is extremely inconvenient, which involves highly complex diplomatic, political and military aspects. Over 15 million barrels of crude oil are shipped through right across our coast from the Gulf countries daily. In terms of percentage dependence on the Middle Eastern oil, out of total oil imports, the figures are: China 60%, United States 18%, India 59%, Japan 90% and Pakistan 99%. Apart from oil, 90% of world trade measured by weight and volume and 80% by value is carried in seaborne commerce and this trend appears to be steadily increasing with every year. This inseparable human dependence on the sea would continue to grow and would necessitate measures to safeguard it from non-traditional threats. Our seas, the Indian Ocean in general and the Arabian Sea in particular would remain in the limelight owing to massive dependence of oil from the Middle Eastern countries for the rest of the world. Though there has not been significant manifestation of non-traditional threats in our seas yet their emergence now or anytime in the future cannot be ignored, which means the idea of maritime security should not escape our focus.
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