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UN commission extends outer limits of Pakistan’s continental shelf
* Aziz says this development will boost efforts to economically uplift of the people of Pakistan
ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: Pakistan has expressed great satisfaction that its claim at the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS), for extension of outer limits of its continental shelf, has been unanimously approved.
The commission completed its review and accepted Pakistan’s claim for extension of its continental shelf limits thereby extending Pakistan’s sea limits from 200 Nautical Miles to 350 Nautical Miles, a press release of Pakistan Navy said here on Friday.
Article 76 of the UN Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) allows coastal states to extend their Continental Shelf beyond 200NM. However, a coastal state is required to prove its case through technical data to the UN Commission on Limits of Continental Shelf - a body of 21 experts in Geology, Geophysics, Hydrography and other related disciplines. Pakistan also has the honour of representation in this august body. Pakistan Navy Hydrographer Commodore M Arshad is a member of the Commission.
As a consequence of this landmark development, Pakistan has been granted an additional area of approximately 50,000 square kilometres. Pakistan will have exclusive rights for exploitation and exploration of resources at and beneath the seabed in this area in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. This is a landmark achievement and a momentous event in the country’s history which would bring vast economic benefits through exploitation of extensive natural resources present there.
Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz in a statement said this development would boost “our efforts aimed at sustainable socio-economic uplift of the people of Pakistan”. He said the approval at the United Nations is the result of sustained, dedicated and very well-coordinated diplomatic and technical efforts by concerned Pakistani departments at various levels including national and international. He said, “We are thankful to the brotherly country of Oman for its understanding and cooperation in the matter.”
The notification from the CLCS came during the two-day visit of Federal Minister for Science and Technology Rana Tanveer Hussain to the UN in connection with 37th Session of the Commission that had a final presentation on Pakistan’s submission given by five members delegation.
The project to extend Pakistan’s Continental Shelf was started in 2005, jointly by Pakistan Navy and National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) with Ministry of Science and Technology as the sponsor ministry. After 4 years of dedicated work and collection and processing of voluminous technical data, a comprehensive submission was made to CLCS on April 30, 2009.
On Pakistan’s turn, a seven-member sub-commission of CLCS undertook an in-depth analysis/review of Pakistan’s submission and after over a yearlong thorough scrutiny and analysis CLCS has now adopted recommendations for extension of Pakistan’s continental shelf from 200 to 350NM.
During this process, a technical delegation from Pakistan comprising Judge Advocate General of Pakistan Navy Commodore Zafar Mansoor Tipu, Project Director and Director General of National Institute of Oceanography, Dr. Asif Inam, Pakistan Navy Hydrographic Department’s Commander Salman Ahmed Khan, National Institute of Oceanography’s Mohsin Tabrez and Khalid Mehmood, undertook this important task and held multiple interactions with the sub-commission, the Pakistan Navy press release further said.
At the final stage, Pakistan’s delegation, headed by Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN Dr Maliha Lodhi gave the final presentation on March 10, 2015. After extensive deliberation the CLCS has now announced the adoption of Pakistan’s claim. Active pursuance and prompt responses of Pakistan’s delegation helped in culminating the whole process successfully in a relatively short timeframe.
The accomplishment of this historic milestone, which augurs well for economic well being of the future generations, is the outcome of seamless coordination and cooperation between various ministries and departments as well as sustained government support throughout a decade long effort. It is by all means a great national achievement with rich dividends for the nation in future. All those associated with the project deserve commendation.
The nation is rightly proud of this achievement. “We must now utilise all our resources to exploit the vast economic potential of our maritime zones for the benefit of our nation, the press release concluded.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk