Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has urged
integrating ocean awareness into formal education systems and empowering youth as active
partners in preserving marine ecosystems.
He expressed these views during a meeting with Minister of State for Education and
Professional Training, Wajiha Qamar, who called on him and discussed strategies for enhancing
marine education, literacy, and youth engagement in sustainable ocean management.
Highlighting the critical role of marine literacy, Minister Junaid Chaudhry said,
“Understanding our oceans is no longer optional, it is essential for climate resilience,
sustainable development, and the long-term health of our maritime resources." He added that
education equips our youth to make informed decisions and actively contribute to marine
conservation and the blue economy.
He stressed aligning marine education with Development Goal (SDG) 4.7, which
promotes education for sustainable development (ESD) by embedding knowledge of marine
ecosystems, conservation, and human-ocean interactions into curricula, teacher training, and
global citizenship programs.
“Initiatives like ‘Ocean Literacy for All’ can mainstream these elements in national
policies, school programs, and community workshops to build proactive citizenship on marine
challenges,” minister Chaudhry added.
“Ocean Literacy for All” is a UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission
(IOC)–coordinated global initiative under the UN Ocean Decade (2021–2030) that promotes
ocean awareness, education, and conservation.
Minister Chaudhry emphasized advancing marine education in line with the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 14 on ocean conservation, SDG 4 on quality
education, SDG 13 on climate action, and SDG 2 on sustainable fisheries, with a focus on
reducing pollution, strengthening ecosystem management, and ensuring sustainable use of
marine resources.
He also announced reforms in maritime education, including granting degree-awarding
status to the Pakistan Marine Academy, and the establishment of the Maritime Educational
Endowment Fund (MEEF) to provide scholarships for deserving children from coastal
communities.
“The scholarship program promotes inclusive development by enabling access to quality
education for youth from over 70 coastal and fishing communities, particularly in Sindh and
Balochistan,” he said.
The federal minister said a dedicated oversight committee has been formed to ensure
transparency, equitable distribution, and robust monitoring scholarships' process. In its initial
phase, MEEF targets coastal regions, with plans for national expansion, he added.
The discussion underscored raising awareness about oceans, coastal ecosystems, and
marine resources. Both ministers stressed on the need to integrate climate and marine
education from classrooms to community programs, addressing risks like rising sea
temperatures, coastal erosion, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
“Marine literacy is a strategic investment,” Minister Chaudhry added. “By equipping
young people with knowledge of fisheries, mangroves, and sustainable maritime practices, we
can cultivate a generation that protects our oceans while unlocking blue economy opportunities.
”State Minister Wajiha Qamar highlighted education’s transformative power in building
social resilience: “Incorporating marine science and ocean literacy into curricula can help
students connect local challenges with global trends.
”The meeting explored translating complex marine science into accessible public
knowledge through sustained, solution-oriented awareness campaigns. With coastline facing
pressures from climate change, pollution, and overexploitation, the ministers called for a
coordinated approach blending formal education, informal learning, and youth-led advocacy.
Minister Chaudhry urged nationwide programs with curriculum modules on marine
biodiversity, fisheries management, ecosystem protection, disaster risk reduction, and
sustainable resource use.
He concluded, “A joint effort by the Ministries of Maritime Affairs and Education can
cultivate an ocean-literate generation, transforming vulnerability into resilience and ensuring the
long-term sustainability of coastal and marine ecosystems.”
