Minister urges media to champion blue economy awareness

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry ne Pakistan ke port cities ke journalists se appeal ki hai ke woh mulk ke blue economy ke potential ko samajhne aur samjhaane mein apna kirdar ada karein. Unho ne kaha ke media sirf shipping aur trade tak mehdood na rahe, balki woh sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, mangrove restoration, aur coastal protection jaise topics ko bhi highlight kare.

Unho ne is baat par zor diya ke Karachi, aur doosre coastal cities, sirf commercial zones nahi hain—yeh sheher climate change ke nishane par bhi hain. Sea-level rise, coastal erosion, aur extreme weather events jaise challenges ka samna karte hue in shehron ka future climate resilience aur sustainable development mein chhupa hai. Is liye, blue economy par focused media reporting se na sirf logon ko agahi milegi, balki policymaking ko bhi guide mil sakti hai.

Wazir ne journalists ko encourage kiya ke woh human stories par focus karein—un machhwaron ki kahaniyaan jo roz samandar mein jaate hain, ya un port workers ki jo har waqt shipping lines ko chala rahe hote hain. Aisi kahaniyaan public interest ko engage karti hain aur policy-makers tak ground realities pohnchati hain.

Unho ne current initiatives ka zikar karte hue kaha ke hukumat Sindh aur Balochistan ke coasts par aquaculture expand kar rahi hai, fishing fleets ko modern aur eco-friendly banaya ja raha hai, aur mangrove forests ko restore karne ke liye plantation campaigns chalaye ja rahe hain. Yeh mangroves sirf coastline ko protect nahi karte, balki carbon storage, marine biodiversity, aur fisheries ke liye bhi bohot zaroori hain.

Wazir ne yeh bhi bataya ke Pakistan ne kai international partnerships establish ki hain jinka aim hai better fisheries management, data collection, aur maritime resource governance. Yeh sab efforts is vision ka hissa hain ke Karachi aur doosri port cities ko sustainable blue economy ka model banaya jaaye.

Unka kehna tha ke media ko sirf news dena nahi, balki public aur government ke darmiyan ek meaningful dialogue bhi promote karna chahiye. Is silsile mein unho ne yeh bhi announce kiya ke Ministry of Maritime Affairs soon capacity-building programs launch karegi jisme journalists ko specialized training di jaayegi aur unko sector-specific information access milegi. Yeh initiative maritime journalism ko boost karega, aur journalists ko enable karega ke woh in technical topics ko asaani se samajh kar awaam tak le jaayen.

Meeting mein shamil Sindh Parliamentary Reporters Association ke delegation ne minister ke points se ittifaq kiya aur kaha ke woh blue economy awareness ke liye media coverage ko barhawa denge. Unka kehna tha ke agar reporting detailed aur data-driven ho, to is emerging sector mein economic opportunity aur environmental responsibility dono ko balance kiya ja sakta hai.

Yeh clear hai ke agar media, government, aur local communities ek saath kaam karein, to Pakistan apni maritime resources ka istamaal kar ke ek naya economic growth model establish kar sakta hai—jisme sustainability aur inclusivity dono shaamil hoon.

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