Aidah Baloch, a native of Ormara in Gwadar district of Balochistan, has reportedly successfully defended her doctoral dissertation in fisheries at the Ocean University of China, according to community pages and social media posts that have widely circulated in the province.

Ocean University of China, located in Qingdao in eastern China’s Shandong Province, is known for its programs in marine science, oceanography, aquaculture and fisheries research, Gwadar Pro reported on Tuesday.

Community pages and social media users in Gwadar and other parts of Balochistan celebrated the reported achievement, describing Baloch as a role model for young women pursuing higher education.

The reported achievement has been welcomed by social media users as a significant milestone for Balochistan’s coastal region, where fisheries remain an important source of livelihood and economic activity, and as an example of growing academic cooperation between Pakistan and China.

Prior to the reported completion of her doctorate, Baloch was pursuing a Ph.D. in Fisheries Resources at the university’s College of Fisheries.

Her research focused on demersal and biological fish species along the Balochistan coastline, including fish stock health, the impacts of overfishing and sustainable fisheries management practices aimed at supporting the long-term development of Pakistan’s fisheries sector.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China