It gives me immense pleasure to know that Karachi Port Trust is celebrating the World Environment Day to impart awareness, regarding mangrove forests protection that will go a very long way to underscore this grim issue. Commemorated every year on 5th June, the World Environment Day is a principal vehicle through which concentrated efforts stimulate vital awareness of the environment.
This year's theme 'Forests: Nature at Your Service' highlights the importance of forests and draws attention for its protection. Being fragile eco-system, mangrove forests are under threats throughout the world but local communities and stakeholders like KPT can play an effective role in mangroves conservation in Pakistan. As in our case, the Indus Delta alone spread over 0.6 million hectares and has mangroves over an area of 0.16 million hectares along the coastline. Mangroves are a precious natural resource that serves as the buffer between the land and the sea.
It is imperative that we must all join hands to preserve and nourish the mangrove forests, which help protect the land from erosion and also harbour a variety of life forms like invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and even mammals.
I wish to felicitate all those who are at the helm of affairs at KPT for highlighting such a dire issue that demands awareness and consideration. I wish KPT all the best and hope that this awareness campaign becomes a resounding success.