Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Monday urged a fundamental rethink of humanity’s relationship with the oceans, calling for urgent collective action to protect marine resources amid rising environmental pressures.
On World Oceans Day, which this year is observed under the global theme “REIMAGINE: Beyond the world we know, a new relationship with our ocean,” Junaid Chaudhry said oceans are not distant ecosystems but life‑support systems that shape air, food and climate.
“Oceans flow through our air, food and climate,” he said in a statement. “”Advocating ocean literacy to boost climate resilience, Junaid Chaudhry said that we must move from awareness to action to protect, restore and reimagine the oceans as a shared global responsibility.”
The minister highlighted the expansion of coastal conservation efforts, including a weekly cleanup campaign by the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) to remove marine waste and improve harbour sustainability. He said work is also underway to restore degraded coastal zones and enhance marine biodiversity.
Mangrove restoration, Junaid Chaudhry added, remains central to the country’s coastal resilience strategy because mangroves act as natural carbon sinks, storm buffers and nurseries for fish.
He praised community‑led initiatives and singled out young environmental activist Almas Qasmani, founder of Saltwater Marina in Rehri Goth, Karachi, for her role in mangrove conservation, biodiversity documentation, eco‑tourism promotion and youth plantation drives. Qasmani, he said, has been nominated a “KPT Ambassador” and has received certificates recognising her environmental leadership.
Citing global science, Junaid Chaudhry referred to recent United Nations Environment Programme assessments that warn oceans, crucial climate regulators, are under severe stress from climate change, biodiversity loss and rising emissions. The reports also highlight widening adaptation finance gaps and increasing risks for coastal communities in developing countries, including Pakistan, he added.
Junaid Chaudhry highlighted opportunities for international cooperation, including the EU’s OceanEye initiative, which aims to strengthen ocean observation and maritime environmental management. He said Pakistan could benefit from enhanced data sharing and marine innovation partnerships.
“The future of our coastal economies depends on protecting and restoring ocean ecosystems,” he said, urging stakeholders across government, industry and civil society to convert commitments into concrete action.
