ISLAMABAD: As the world celebrated World Ocean Day,Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change Romina Khurshid Alam on Saturday underlined the urgent need for collective action by all government and non-governmental stakeholders and communities to address the myriad challenges facing the country’s oceans.

In a press statement issued on Saturday, Ms Alam said this year’s theme, ‘Catalysing Action for Our Ocean and Climate’, resonated deeply with Pakistan’s coastal communities, whose lives and livelihoods were intricately connected with the health and sustainability of the oceans.

She said as a coastal nation, Pakistan was committed to playing its part in advancing marine conservation efforts.

“As a nation with a rich maritime heritage, we recognise the vital role that oceans play in supporting life on Earth, regulating our climate, and providing resources that sustain livelihoods,” Ms Alam said.

The initiatives of mangroves restoration in Pakistan had resulted in 300pc increase of mangroves since 1992, which drew global appreciation for the government’s conservation efforts, the prime minister’s coordinator said.

Through initiatives such as marine protected areas, community-based conservation projects such as national mangroves restoration initiative and public awareness campaigns, the present government was striving to safeguard oceans and promote their sustainable use, she said.

Romina Khurshid Alam also said the present government was aware of the national and global environmental and climate change-related challenges facing the oceans and efforts were being made to address marine pollution, promote sustainable fisheries management and conserve marine biodiversity.

She said Pakistan was blessed with a resource-rich coastline of about 1,046km along the Arabia Sea, which harboured a diverse array of marine life and ecosystems. From the bustling ports of Karachi to the tranquil shores of Gwadar, Pakistan’s coastal areas were not only vital hubs of economic activity but also rich reservoirs of unique biodiversity of global repute.

The PM’s coordinator said pollution, over-fishing, climate change and habitat destruction threatened the delicate balance of marine ecosystems worldwide, jeopardising the well-being of millions of people who depended on the oceans for their sustenance and livelihoods.

“Oceans globally are facing grave challenges, including pollution, over-fishing, habitat destruction and the impacts of climate change. Besides, growing amount of plastic waste dumping in oceans is a major environmental threat to oceans’ sustainability,” Ms Alam said

Highlighting the plight of rapidly pollution oceans around the world, mainly because of untamed dumping of plastic waste, Romina Khurshid Alam said around 9.5 million tonnes of plastic waste was dumped into oceans worldwide, which posed risk to the fish and other oceanic biodiversity.

“We urge all nations to strengthen cooperation, implement effective policies, and adopt sustainable practices to ensure the health and resilience of marine ecosystems for present and future generations,” she added.

Romina Khurshid also reaffirmed her government’s commitment to the global efforts for preservation and sustainable use of our oceans.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2024