Section 8: Exclusive economic zone

8. Exclusive economic zone.—(1) The exclusive economic zone of Pakistan, hereinafter referred to as the exclusive economic zone, is an area beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea, the limit of which is two hundred natitical miles from the baseline. (2) In the exclusive economic zone including its bed, subsoil and the superjacent waters, Pakistan has— (a) sovereign rights for the purpose of exploration, development, exploitation, conservation and management of natural resources both living and non-living as well as for producing energy from tides, winds, currents and the sun; (b) exclusive rights and jurisdiction for the construction, maintenance or operation of artificial islands, off-shore terminals, installations and other structures and devices necessary for the exploration and exploitation of the resources of this zone or for the safety and convenience of navigation or for any other purpose; (c) exclusive rights and jurisdiction to authorize, regulate, conduct and control scientific research; (d) exclusive jurisdiction to preserve and protect the marine environment and to prevent, reduce and control pollution of marine environment; and (e) such other rights as are recognized by the international law. (3) No person or company including a foreign government shall, except under and in accordance with the terms of any agreement with the Federal Government or a licence or letter of authority issued by the Federal Government, or any authority or person duly authorized in this behalf by the Federal Government, explore or exploit any recourses of the exclusive economic zone or carry out any search or excavation or conduct any research within the exclusive economic zone or drill therein or construct, maintain or operate therein for any of the purposes whatsoever, any artificial, island, off-shore terminal, installation or other structure or device. (4) The Federal Government may, by notification in the official Gazette— (a) declare any area of the exclusive economic zone to be a designated area; and (b) make such provisions as it may deem necessary with respect to all or any of the following matters, namely: (i) the exploration, development, exploitation and protection of the resources of such designated area; (ii) other activities for the economic exploitation and exploration of such designated area, such as the production of energy from tides, winds, currents and the sun; (iii) the safety and protection of artificial islands, off-shore terminals, installations and other structures and devices in such designated area; (iv) the protection of marine environment of such designated area; (v) customs and other fiscal matters in relation to such designated area; and (vi) the regulation of entry into and passage through the designated area of foreign ships by the establishment of fairways, sea lanes, traffic separation schemes or any other mode of ensuring freedom of navigation which is not prejudicial to the interest of Pakistan. (5) The Federal Government may, by notification in the official Gazette,— (a) extend to the whole or any part of the exclusive economic zone any relevant law for the time being in force in Pakistan, or any provision thereof; and (b) make such provisions as it may deem necessary for facilitating the enforcement of such laws in the exclusive economic zone or, as the case may be, the part thereof to which it has been extended. (6) The provisions of sub-section (6) of section 9 shall apply in relation to the laying or maintenance of submarine cables or pipelines or such other material on the seabed of the exclusive economic zone as they apply in relation to the laying or maintenance of submarine cables or pipelines or such other material on the seabed of the continental shelf. (7) in the exclusive economic zone and the air space over the zone, ships and aircraft of all states shall, subject to the exercise by Pakistan of its right within the zone, enjoy freedom of navigation and the over flight.

Effective date: 2023-04-26

Related sections