Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has 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 urgent action to protect ecosystems and strengthen environmental resilience worldwide.
The minister said 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.
Scientists, he added, describe the event as an unprecedented marine heatwave that is already intensifying climate risks along Pakistan’s coast and altering forthcoming monsoon behaviour.
“Warmer waters are a known factor in both cyclone formation and intensification,” Junaid Chaudhry 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 strength would place additional pressure on ports, fishing fleets and coastal infrastructure, and demanded heightened preparedness across government and industry.
The minister said climate records show a warming trend since the 1980s and pointed to a westward shift in monsoon moisture that could increase the likelihood of heavier-than-normal rainfall in southern Pakistan, particularly Karachi and Sindh, between mid-August and mid-September.
Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said the planet is 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 said anomalous Arabian Sea warming is 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.
Junaid 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 wider blue economy.
Referring to recent United Nations Environment Programme reports, the minister said record greenhouse-gas emissions and rapid planetary warming are 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 is straining marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
Calling for an accelerated, integrated response, Junaid 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 the Ministry of Maritime Affairs will coordinate with the Ministry of Climate Change, provincial governments, fisheries cooperatives and international partners to implement the 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,” Junaid Chaudhry said, urging timely, science-based action and stronger global emissions cuts 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.