'Ocean awareness critical for sustainable development'

Minister says education equips youth to contribute to marine conservation and blue economy

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has underscored the need for integrating ocean awareness into formal education systems and empowering youth as active partners in preserving marine ecosystems.

He expressed these views during a meeting with Minister of State for Education and Professional Training Wajiha Qamar, who called on him and discussed strategies for enhancing marine education, literacy and youth engagement in sustainable ocean management.

Highlighting the critical role of marine literacy, Chaudhry said, "Understanding our oceans is no longer optional, it is essential for climate resilience, sustainable development and the long-term health of our maritime resources." He added that education equips the youth to make informed decisions and actively contribute to marine conservation and the blue economy.

He called for aligning marine education with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4.7, which promotes education for sustainable development by embedding knowledge of marine ecosystems, conservation and human-ocean interactions into curricula, teacher training and global citizenship programmes. "Initiatives like 'Ocean Literacy for All' can mainstream these elements in national policies, school programmes and community workshops to build proactive citizenship on marine challenges," he said.

The "Ocean Literacy for All" is a Unesco's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)-coordinated global initiative under the UN Ocean Decade (2021-2030) that promotes ocean awareness, education and conservation.

Chaudhry emphasised advancing marine education in line with the SDGs, including SDG 14 on ocean conservation, SDG 4 on quality education, SDG 13 on climate action and SDG 2 on sustainable fisheries, with a focus on reducing pollution, strengthening ecosystem management and ensuring sustainable use of marine resources.

He also announced reforms in maritime education, including granting degree-awarding status to the Pakistan Marine Academy and the establishment of the Maritime Educational Endowment Fund (MEEF) to provide scholarships for deserving children from coastal communities.

"The scholarship programme promotes inclusive development by enabling access to quality education for youth from over 70 coastal and fishing communities, particularly in Sindh and Balochistan," he said.