ISLAMABAD – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar yesterday urged the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to step up institutional efforts for the safe and early release of 10 Pakistani seafarers being held captive aboard the vessel MT Honour 25. Dar made the call during a meeting with IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez in London, the Foreign Office said.
The DPM reaffirmed Pakistan’s longstanding commitment to the IMO and appreciated the organisation’s role as the principal international regulatory body responsible for promoting safe, secure and efficient international shipping. Dar thanked Dominguez for his support for Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to secure the safe release of the 10 Pakistani seafarers, who remain in captivity aboard MT Honour 25. He called for urgent and effective institutional intervention by the IMO to facilitate the early and safe return of all the detained Pakistani nationals.
The DPM also briefed the IMO chief on Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen maritime governance and ensure effective implementation of international maritime standards. He highlighted Islamabad’s focus on further developing the country’s blue economy and expanding the maritime sector’s contribution to national economic growth. The two sides discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation between Pakistan and the IMO, particularly in maritime safety and security, regulatory reforms and the development of Pakistan’s maritime sector. The meeting came as Islamabad continues diplomatic and institutional efforts to secure the release of the Pakistani seafarers aboard MT Honour 25. Pakistan’s mission in the United Kingdom was also associated with the engagement.
