KARACHI: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Mohammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has underscored the importance of oil spill drills in enhancing preparedness to protect marine life and habitats from damaging effects of oil pollution.

During his visit to Karachi Port to witness the oil spill response exercise (OSRC), Mr Chaudhry highlighted that these drills have improved the nation’s oil spill response capabilities by “over 70 per cent” in recent years.

The minister said the drills had been institutionalised across major ports, ensuring comprehensive readiness for environmental emergencies.

He said the exercises enabled response teams to practise essential strategies for containment, clean-up, and mitigation, reducing environmental damage during actual oil spills.

“These drills are essential in minimising environmental damage when actual oil spills occur,” he remarked.

Mr Chaudhry also discussed the ecological threats of oil pollution, noting the harm to vulnerable marine species and the disruption of critical habitats and food webs.

He also warned about consequences for natural carbon sinks like mangroves and seagrass beds, which struggle to mitigate climate change due to oil pollution.

He said approximately 80 per cent of Pakistan’s coastal population relies on fisheries, with around one million people directly involved in fishing and another million in the fishery value chain, emphasising the sector’s crucial role in sustaining livelihoods for about two million people.

Earlier, the minister received a briefing from General Manager Operations, Rear Admiral Atiq-ur-Rehman, and Manager Marine Pollution Control, Fayyaz Rasool, about the drill, with demonstrations of oil spill response equipment by the marine pollution control department team.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2025