ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has warned of an underwater heat emergency in the Arabian Sea and called for urgent climate action to protect coastal communities, fisheries and maritime infrastructure.

In a statement on Environment Day, he emphasised that nature provides countless sustainable solutions to the climate crisis, from ocean depths to mountain peaks. He called for urgent action to protect ecosystems and strengthen environmental resilience worldwide.

The minister said sustained sea-surface temperatures in the northern Arabian Sea have exceeded the 90th percentile across more than 30 per cent of the region in recent weeks. Scientists, he added, describe the event as an unprecedented marine heatwave that is already intensifying climate risks along Pakistan’s coast and altering forthcoming monsoon behaviour.

“Warmer waters are a known factor in both cyclone formation and intensification,” Mr Chaudhry said, linking the marine heatwave to a potential rise in tropical cyclone activity in the North Arabian Sea.

He warned that increased cyclone frequency and strength would place additional pressure on ports, fishing fleets and coastal infrastructure.

The minister said climate records show a warming trend since the 1980s and pointed to a westward shift in monsoon moisture that could increase the likelihood of heavier-than-normal rainfall in southern Pakistan.

The minister said the planet is sending urgent warning signals through increasingly frequent climate extremes and pointed to rising heatwaves, prolonged droughts, and devastating floods as clear evidence of a changing global climate system.

Calling for an accelerated, integrated response, Junaid Chaudhry urged national and provincial authorities to combine climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction and sustainable maritime governance.

He outlined priority actions including strengthening earlywarning systems for marine heatwaves, cyclones and extreme rainfall; expanding support and alternative livelihoods for fishing communities; accelerating mangrove restoration and shoreline protection; improving port and shipping preparedness; and enhancing realtime ocean monitoring through scientific collaboration.

Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2026