ISLAMABAD, Aug 07 (Alliance News): Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has emphasized the need to highlight Pakistan’s blue economy as a vital pathway to ensuring livelihoods and building climate resilience, particularly in coastal and urban port areas.
Speaking to a 30-member delegation of the Sindh Parliamentary Reporters Association in Islamabad, the minister encouraged the media to expand its focus beyond traditional narratives of shipping and trade, urging greater attention to aquaculture, sustainable fisheries, mangrove restoration, and coastal protection efforts led by local communities.
The delegation, led by Secretary General Akram Baloch and senior Dawn reporter Tahir Sadiqui, visited the Ministry of Maritime Affairs as part of a study tour organized for capacity building in the federal capital.
The minister stressed that Karachi and other port cities face the dual challenge of tapping maritime economic potential while confronting climate threats such as rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and extreme weather events.
These areas, he said, must embed climate resilience in their development strategies, which should revolve around sustainable marine resource management, not just maritime trade.
He called on reporters to bring forward the human stories of Pakistan’s maritime workforce—from small-scale fishers operating in coastal creeks to port laborers and logistics workers—to help national and global audiences understand the socio-economic and environmental stakes.
Highlighting government initiatives, Junaid Chaudhry shared plans to expand aquaculture along the Sindh and Balochistan coasts, modernize fishing vessels for environmental sustainability, and accelerate mangrove reforestation.
He pointed out that Pakistan is home to one of the world’s largest mangrove forests, which serve as natural barriers against storm surges, vital carbon sinks, and nurseries for marine life that support the fisheries industry.
He also noted that international partnerships were helping strengthen sustainable fisheries management and drive long-term efforts to make Karachi and other port cities examples of sustainable maritime development, where economic growth is harmonized with environmental stewardship.
The minister urged journalists to promote solutions-based stories that highlight positive change—such as eco-friendly fishing cooperatives or coastal communities restored and protected through mangrove reforestation.
Such narratives, he said, can play a crucial role in shaping policy support and public awareness for blue economy objectives.
He announced that the Ministry of Maritime Affairs would support capacity-building programs to enhance maritime journalism and ensure broader, data-informed coverage of the sector.
Members of the reporters’ delegation welcomed the proposal for specialized training in maritime affairs and better access to sectoral data, acknowledging the importance of informed journalism in shaping public discourse around climate and economic issues linked to the sea.
The engagement reflected the government’s recognition of the critical role journalists play in connecting the opportunities of Pakistan’s maritime sector with the need for sustainable environmental action.
