Climate official calls for bird-friendly cities

Pakistan joined the global community on Saturday in marking World Migratory Bird Day 2025, highlighting the urgent need to protect migratory bird species and their habitats amid increasing urban threats.

Speaking on the occasion, Muhammad Saleem Shaikh, spokesperson for the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, emphasised that safeguarding migratory birds is a shared national responsibility, calling on government bodies, civil society, and the public to take meaningful steps toward creating bird-friendly urban spaces.

"Protecting migratory birds is not just about conserving wildlife. It's about safeguarding our environmental integrity, fulfilling international commitments, and ensuring a sustainable future," Shaikh said in a statement issued on Sunday.

This year's WMBD theme, "Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-Friendly Cities and Communities," underscores the importance of transforming urban and suburban environments into safe havens for migratory birds. Events and awareness campaigns were held nationwide to promote this message.

Pakistan is a key stopover for migratory birds, with nearly 70 percent of the country's 668 bird species undertaking seasonal journeys. The country lies along the Central Asian Flyway, making it a vital route for millions of birds migrating between Europe, Asia, and Africa.

However, migratory birds face mounting threats, including rapid urbanisation, light pollution, habitat degradation, and the spread of glass buildings, which often cause fatal collisions. "These factors are severely impacting bird populations," Shaikh noted. "Creating awareness and enforcing bird-friendly urban planning practices, such as bird-safe glass and wetland preservation, is crucial."

Shaikh also pointed to Pakistan's international obligations, including its status as a signatory to the UN Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).