Islamabad: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has issued a warning about an underwater heat emergency in the Arabian Sea, urging immediate climate action to safeguard coastal communities, fisheries, and maritime infrastructure.
According to Press Information Department, on Climate Day, Chaudhry highlighted the sustainable solutions nature offers to the climate crisis, advocating for urgent efforts to protect ecosystems and enhance environmental resilience. He noted that recent sea-surface temperatures in the northern Arabian Sea have surpassed the 90th percentile over a significant portion of the region, leading to what scientists describe as an unprecedented marine heatwave. This heatwave poses increased climate risks along Pakistan’s coast and could alter monsoon patterns, potentially intensifying tropical cyclone activity. The minister stressed that increased cyclone activity would challenge ports, fishing fleets, and coastal infrastructure, necessitating enhanced preparedness from both government and industry.
Chaudhry pointed to the warming trend since the 1980s and a westward shift in monsoon moisture, which could result in heavier-than-normal rainfall in southern Pakistan, particularly in Karachi and Sindh, from mid-August to mid-September. He emphasized the urgent warning signals from the planet, such as rising heatwaves and severe floods, as evidence of a changing global climate system. He called for collective action to protect future generations from environmental risks.
The minister warned that anomalous warming in the Arabian Sea is likely to increase the probability of intense rainfall events, posing flood risks to urban areas. He highlighted the vulnerability of the Indus Delta, citing environmental challenges such as sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion. Additionally, he mentioned the threats to livelihoods and the blue economy from coral bleaching and shifting fish populations. Referring to recent reports by the United Nations Environment Programme, Chaudhry noted that record greenhouse-gas emissions are exacerbating marine heatwaves worldwide.
Junaid Chaudhry urged an integrated response combining climate adaptation and sustainable maritime governance. He outlined priority actions, including strengthening early-warning systems, supporting fishing communities, accelerating mangrove restoration, and enhancing port preparedness. The Ministry of Maritime Affairs plans to collaborate with various stakeholders to implement these measures and called on the private sector and civil society to join a coordinated national response.
Chaudhry concluded by emphasizing the critical need for science-based action, global emissions cuts, and climate finance to aid developing coastal states in adaptation efforts, particularly ahead of the monsoon season.