Pakistan establishes third marine protected area around biodiverse lagoon, but covers just 0.23% of its waters

Pakistan took a modest step forward in marine conservation on September 2nd when Balochistan province declared the country’s third marine protected area around Miani Hor Lagoon on the central coast. The new 43-square-kilometer sanctuary protects a biodiversity hotspot featuring thriving mangrove forests, diverse bird populations, and endangered marine mammals.

However, the milestone highlights Pakistan’s significant conservation challenges. Even with this addition, the country protects only 542 square kilometers of its 240,000-square-kilometer marine territory—a mere 0.23% that falls far short of international standards. This puts Pakistan behind regional neighbors like Bangladesh, which protects 8% of its waters, and even India at 0.3%, though experts note that none of these countries’ marine protected areas receive adequate protection.

The gap becomes more concerning when viewed against global conservation goals. Pakistan appears unlikely to meet the ambitious “30×30” target established under the Kunming-Montreal Global Diversity Framework, which calls for protecting 30% of land and sea by 2030. The country also missed the previous international benchmark—the Aichi Target 11—which aimed for 10% protection by 2020.

Beyond designation, Pakistan struggles with implementation. The country took eight years to develop a management plan for its first marine protected area around Astola Island, established in 2017. Its second protected area, Churna Island, designated just last month, still lacks any management framework. Despite these challenges, conservationists view the Miani Hor designation as progress in protecting Pakistan’s threatened coastal ecosystems.