NEW YORK, July 22 (Alliance News): Pakistan has signed a significant international agreement aimed at conserving marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, reaffirming its commitment to global maritime sustainability and multilateral cooperation.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar signed the “Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement)” at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Foreign Office announced on Tuesday.
Pakistan played a pivotal role in shaping the agreement, having served as Chair of the Group of 77 and China during the key negotiation sessions in 2022.
As a representative of developing countries, Pakistan strongly advocated for fair benefit-sharing, capacity-building, and the transfer of marine technology—principles rooted in the idea of the ocean as the “common heritage of humankind.”
The BBNJ Agreement creates a legal framework to protect marine biological diversity in international waters.
It covers four key areas: fair and equitable sharing of marine genetic resources, area-based management tools such as marine protected areas, environmental impact assessments, and support for capacity-building and technology transfer.
The treaty also establishes a funding mechanism and institutional structures, including a Conference of the Parties, subsidiary bodies, a Clearing-House Mechanism, and a secretariat to oversee implementation.
The Foreign Office emphasized that the signing highlights Pakistan’s dedication to safeguarding marine ecosystems and promoting long-term, sustainable use of ocean resources through international collaboration.
