President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to strengthening maritime safety, security and regulatory oversight in line with its international obligations.

In their separate messages on the occasion of World Maritime Day, they paid tribute to Pakistan's seafarers and all maritime professionals whose work supports country's economy and international trade.

President Asif Ali Zardari said Pakistan is advancing the modernization of its maritime infrastructure. He said the installation of a modern Vessel Traffic Management System at Port Qasim will strengthen navigational safety, vessel monitoring, maritime security and operational efficiency.

He said during the current regional tensions, our seafarers and maritime personnel have once again made the nation proud by going beyond the call of duty under demanding circumstances.

In his message, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said this year, World Maritime Day is being observed under the theme, "From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence."

He said Pakistan is making concerted efforts in this direction, with a particular focus on aligning the national maritime industry with international maritime standards and implementing the relevant conventions of the International Maritime Organization.

The Prime Minister said as a responsible maritime nation, Pakistan remains committed to improving its maritime safety and security, environmental sustainability and professional capacity, with a view to developing a strong, modern and globally competitive maritime sector in line with international standards.