ISLAMABAD (special crosspondent) – Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Sunday highlighted the vital role of Pakistan’s mangroves in protecting the Arabian Sea coastline, sustaining fisheries, and strengthening climate resilience. In a statement issued on the eve of World Mangrove Day, he called for concerted efforts to protect and restore the country’s mangrove ecosystems and unlock their potential for the blue economy.

Pakistan’s Strategic Ecological Standing

The minister noted that Pakistan is home to the world’s largest arid-climate mangrove forest, concentrated in the Indus Delta in Sindh, with smaller patches in Balochistan. He said Pakistan currently ranks around seventh globally in mangrove forest area and could move to fourth or fifth place through sustained restoration efforts. Much like the government’s push for sustainable infrastructure, he emphasized that mangroves act as a natural shield against shoreline erosion, flooding, and storm surges while protecting coastal communities, ports, and marine biodiversity.

Economic Impact and Carbon Sequestration

He warned that the degradation of these ecosystems threatens food security and the livelihoods of fishing communities, as mangroves serve as breeding and nursery grounds for fish, shrimp, crabs, and other species that support fisheries and emerging aquaculture. He estimated that Pakistan’s mangrove carbon market could generate $20–50 million annually, depending on carbon-credit prices and volumes. The minister stated that Balochistan’s roughly 4,058 hectares of mangroves could also contribute to national carbon-market initiatives. He added that mangroves can sequester roughly four times more carbon than terrestrial forests, a factor that is key as national economic strategies increasingly focus on sustainable resource management.

Restoration and Conservation Efforts

Acknowledging past degradation caused by encroachments, pollution, and reduced Indus flows, Junaid Chaudhry outlined rehabilitation efforts by the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and provincial authorities. He said KPT had recovered mangrove areas from squatters, launched afforestation drives along Mai Kolachi Road and nearby coastal areas, and organised weekly clean-ups. KPT had also appointed environmental activist Almas Kasmani as its ambassador for coastal mangrove restoration. The minister said she had already restored 4,000 mangrove plants and set a target of planting another 100,000. He concluded by calling for greater public awareness, stricter enforcement against encroachment, and increased public-private investment in blue economy initiatives, urging stakeholders to turn commitments into action as Pakistan marks World Mangrove Day.