ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Friday warned of an emerging underwater heat emergency in the Arabian Sea, calling for immediate and coordinated climate action to protect coastal communities, fisheries, and maritime infrastructure.
In a statement issued on Climate Day, the minister said nature offers sustainable solutions to the climate crisis but stressed that urgent action is needed to safeguard ecosystems from escalating environmental stress.
He noted that sustained sea-surface temperatures in the northern Arabian Sea have exceeded the 90th percentile across more than 30 percent of the region in recent weeks, describing the situation as an unprecedented marine heatwave with serious implications for Pakistan’s coastal belt.
According to the minister, scientists warn that the phenomenon could intensify climate risks along the coastline and influence upcoming monsoon patterns. He added that rising ocean temperatures may also increase the likelihood and severity of tropical cyclones in the North Arabian Sea.
He cautioned that stronger and more frequent cyclonic activity would place additional pressure on ports, fisheries, and coastal infrastructure, underscoring the need for enhanced preparedness across government and industry.
The minister also highlighted long-term climate trends, noting a persistent warming pattern since the 1980s and a potential westward shift in monsoon moisture, which could lead to heavier-than-normal rainfall events in southern Pakistan, particularly Sindh and Karachi between mid-August and mid-September.
He warned that these changes could overwhelm urban drainage systems and significantly increase flood risks.
“These climate extremes are clear signals of a rapidly changing global system,” he said, pointing to rising heatwaves, prolonged droughts, and devastating floods as evidence of growing climate vulnerability worldwide.
Referring to recent United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) findings, he noted that record greenhouse gas emissions and global warming are driving more frequent and intense marine heatwaves. He added that oceans, which absorb much of the planet’s excess heat, are now under severe ecological stress.
Calling for a coordinated response, the minister urged authorities to integrate climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable maritime governance into national planning.
He outlined key priorities, including strengthening early warning systems for marine heatwaves, cyclones, and extreme rainfall; supporting alternative livelihoods for fishing communities; accelerating mangrove restoration and coastal protection; improving port resilience; and expanding real-time ocean monitoring.
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs, he said, will work with the Ministry of Climate Change, provincial governments, the Pakistan Navy, fisheries groups, and international partners to implement these measures.
He also called on the private sector, port operators, and civil society to participate in a unified national response, stressing that climate resilience requires collective action.
“We are at a critical moment,” he said, urging science-based policy, stronger global emissions reduction, and increased climate finance for vulnerable coastal states.
