Stretching from the Indus Delta to the coastal lagoons of Balochistan, Pakistan’s wetlands mangroves, estuaries, tidal flats, and marshes form a living barrier between land and sea. As sea levels rise and climate events intensify, the role of wetlands as natural shock absorbers becomes more crucial than any man-made seawall. On World Wetlands Day, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry delivered a timely and vital reminder: Pakistan’s wetlands are not just ecological treasures; they are the country’s first line of defense against climate change, economic instability, and marine degradation. Yet despite their importance, Pakistan’s wetlands remain under threat from unchecked development, pollution, illegal encroachment, and deforestation. Mangrove restoration, wetland mapping, sustainable fishing regulations, and coastal zoning laws should be national priorities.

Source: The Patriot February 02, 2026 23:39 UTC