Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Friday warned of an underwater heat emergency in the Arabian Sea and urged urgent climate action to protect coastal communities, fisheries, and maritime infrastructure.
In a statement on Climate Day, he emphasized that nature provides countless sustainable solutions to the climate crisis-from ocean depths to mountain peaks. He called for immediate action to protect ecosystems and strengthen environmental resilience worldwide.
The minister said that sustained sea-surface temperatures in the northern Arabian Sea had exceeded the 90th percentile across more than 30 percent of the region in recent weeks. He added that scientists had described the event as an unprecedented marine heatwave already intensifying climate risks along Pakistan’s coast and altering upcoming monsoon behavior. ‘Warmer waters are a known factor in both cyclone formation and intensification,’ he said, linking the marine heatwave to a potential rise in tropical cyclone activity in the North Arabian Sea.
He warned that increased cyclone frequency and intensity would place additional pressure on ports, fishing fleets, and coastal infrastructure, and he demanded heightened preparedness across government and industry. The minister further noted that climate records showed a warming trend since the 1980s and pointed to a westward shift in monsoon moisture, which could increase the likelihood of heavier-than-normal rainfall in southern Pakistan, particularly Karachi and Sindh, between mid-August and mid-September.
Chaudhry said that the planet was sending urgent warning signals through increasingly frequent climate extremes. He pointed to rising heatwaves, prolonged droughts, and devastating floods as clear evidence of a changing global climate system.
‘These events highlight the growing vulnerability of communities worldwide and the need for immediate action. We must respond collectively to protect future generations from escalating environmental risks and ensure sustainable development policies,’ he added.
He further stated that anomalous Arabian Sea warming was projected to enhance moisture transport toward the coastline, raising the probability of intense rainfall events that could overwhelm urban drainage systems and heighten flood risk. Chaudhry highlighted the vulnerability of the Indus Delta, citing sea-level rise, coastal erosion, and saltwater intrusion that are damaging agricultural land and freshwater resources. He warned of severe coral bleaching and shifting fish populations that threaten livelihoods and the broader blue economy.
Referring to recent United Nations Environment Programme reports, the minister said record greenhouse-gas emissions and rapid planetary warming were increasing the frequency, intensity, and duration of marine heatwaves worldwide. ‘The ocean has absorbed a large share of excess atmospheric heat,’ he said, adding that this buffering role was straining marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
Calling for an accelerated and integrated response, Chaudhry urged national and provincial authorities to combine climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable maritime governance.
He outlined priority actions, including strengthening early warning systems for marine heatwaves, cyclones, and extreme rainfall; expanding support and alternative livelihoods for fishing communities; accelerating mangrove restoration and shoreline protection; improving port and shipping preparedness; and enhancing real-time ocean monitoring through scientific collaboration.
The minister said that the Ministry of Maritime Affairs would coordinate with the Ministry of Climate Change, provincial governments, fisheries cooperatives, and international partners to implement these measures. He also appealed to the private sector, port authorities, and civil society to join a coordinated national response.
‘We are at a critical moment,’ Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said, urging timely, science-based action and stronger global emissions reductions and climate finance to help developing coastal states adapt. He called for heightened vigilance ahead of the monsoon season and an intensified national campaign on coastal preparedness to protect lives, food supplies, and the ecological and economic health of Pakistan’s seas.