The Ministry of
Climate Change, Government of Pakistan in collaboration with IUCN Pakistan,
Government of Sindh and other stakeholders commemorated the International
Coastal Clean-up Day at the Seaview Beach in Karachi today. Minister for
Climate Change, Senator Mushahid Ullah Khan, was the Chief Guest on this
occasion. Syed Abu Ahmed Akif, Secretary, Ministry of Climate Change,
Government of Pakistan and Inspector General Forests, Syed Nasir Mahmood were
also present on the occasion.
Around a 1000
students, youth and volunteers participated in the event which aimed at
creating mass awareness of the significance of clean coasts and oceans and why
they need to be protected from wastes such as plastic, which research says is
found in 62% sea bird and 100% in sea turtle species.
Speaking on the
occasion, Senator Mushahid Ullah Khan appreciated the efforts carried out by
IUCN in coordinating a massive event and for cleaning up the 3km beach which is
thronged by hundreds and thousands of people every week. “I would like to thank IUCN Pakistan for a
leading role in organizing and coordinating this mega activity, as well as
mainly the students that have come from various schools of Karachi for
collecting tonnes of solid and plastic waste from the Seaview Beach on this
day,” the Minister noted.
He also thanked
Karachi Port Trust and Sindh Forest Department, Engro Foundation, UNDP, Nestle
for their financial assistance. He was of was of the view that growing
pollution in the seas was due to limited awareness amongst masses and the
inadequacy of proper infrastructure. He invited the media for playing its role
to create awareness on environmental degradation. He mentioned that due to a
fast growing population of the world, the earth surface “would not be able to
meet our future food requirement and thus human beings will have to turn to the
oceans.”He lamented that “we have turned our coasts into waste dumps. Our sea
shores are stinking because of the waste dumped by us.”
He further said
that the federal and provincial governments, NGOs, civil society organizations
and individuals will have to come together to keep our coasts clean. He
reiterated that mangroves are the sanctuaries of the marine biodiversity.
In his opening
remarks, Mr. Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, Country Representative, IUCN Pakistan
thanked the Minister, participants and guests and appreciated the role played
by Ministry of Climate Change for a leading role in the event and the other
stakeholders for their support in raising awareness amongst masses on the
significance of cleaner coasts.
During the
ceremony, the Minister also launched two publications produced by IUCN Pakistan
under its Mangroves for the Future Programme titled: Pakistan’s Coastal and Marine Resources and Valuation of Mangroves in PQA Indus Delta: An Econometric Approach. Mr.
Mahmood Akhtar Cheema briefed the media about the value of the mangroves in
economic terms. He emphasised on the mangroves protection as they are a great
asset for the coastal communities in terms of the sea food that they produce.
We need to protect our oceans because the oceans are the largest ecosystems
that we have, and they are the planet’s largest life support systems. To
survive and prosper, we all need healthy oceans. Oceans generate half of
the oxygen people breathe. More than 97% of the world’s water resides in
oceans. Living oceans absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and
reduce the impact of climate change. For us, our coasts are our natural assets
and we need to protect them at all costs.
The
organizations involved in the commemoration were: Sindh Forest Department, UN
Environment; National Institute of Oceanography; Karachi Port Trust; SACEP;
Engro Foundation; WWF Pakistan; Clifton Cantonment Board; Karachi Cantonment
Board, District Administration, Nestle Pakistan; United Nations Development Programme and
National Forum for Environment and Health.