(By Yasir Habib Khan):-
Keeping in view Gwadar’s geographical importance, the government is all set to start the construction of “Gwadar Oceanographic Research Sub-Station” under the patronization of National Institute of Oceanography (NIC) on January 6th.
In this regard, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Agha Hassan Baloch will perform ground breaking in a ceremony as chief guest under NIO’s project titled Strengthening of Oceanographic Research Sub-Station Gwadar, Pakistan.
The main objectives of Gwadar Oceanographic Research Sub-Station is to undertake mission oriented multi-disciplinary research in Pakistan’s maritime zones; undertake oceanographic surveys at the national, international regional and sub-regional levels; undertake training programmes in various fields of oceanography for the development of indigenous manpower and expertise in Gwadar.
NIC official told Gwadar Pro that research will involve areas of geological processes and geomorphology of the coastal areas, sedimentation and sedimentary processes in Indus Delta and Makran Margin, geo-hazards and coastal environment, exploration of placer minerals and other non-living resources, identification and evaluation of potential areas for hydrocarbon resources in EEZ, and study of sub-bottom strata for the laying submarine cables and pipelines and building coastal length.
NIO is the only R&D research organization in Pakistan for multidisciplinary oceanographic research with an experienced and well qualified team of scientists and technicians. Since the establishment of NIO, efforts have been made to enhance the R&D capabilities oceanography and a number of projects of national and international level have been undertaken.
The latest major achievement of NIO is the submission of Case for the Extension of Pakistan’s Continental Shelf to the United Nation’s Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS). It is estimated that an area of more than 50,000 sq km of the extended continental shelf can be annexed to the existing 240,000 sq km offshore area of EEZ.
