Karachi: In commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the University of Karachi (1951-2026), the Dr Muhammad Ajmal Khan Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization (MAK-ISHU), in collaboration with the Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC), hosted a high-level seminar titled ‘Coastal Ecosystems and Blue Carbon Dynamics: Ways for Sustainable Cities and Urban Future’ on Tuesday.
The event drew faculty members, senior researchers, environmental policymakers, and students, all gathered to explore the critical role of blue carbon and mangrove ecosystems in safeguarding coastal megacities against climate threats.
The seminar’s foreign guest, Dr Ahmad Aldrie Amir of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, delivered an online keynote. He provided a global perspective on mangrove ecosystems, citing examples from Malaysia and beyond. He argued that mangroves must be seen not only as conservation zones but as drivers of sustainable economic health and guardians of coastal cities.
He emphasized that when communities benefit economically from well-managed resources, they are more invested in protecting them. His keynote called for balanced approaches combining biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, and community services.
Earlier, the Director of MAK-ISHU, Professor Dr Irfan Aziz, briefly outlined the institute’s long-standing legacy in research on halophytes and coastal ecosystems and the aims of the seminar, while emphasizing the urgent necessity of integrating coastal ecological solutions into modern urban planning. The Director of ORIC, Professor Dr Naeem Khan, highlighted the importance of collaborative research addressing national and environmental challenges.
The KU Dean of the Faculty of Science and co-founder of MAK-ISHU, Professor Dr Bilquees Gul, stressed that climate change, coastal degradation, and urban sustainability demand science-based solutions and interdisciplinary cooperation.
She noted that coastal cities like Karachi are on the frontlines of sea-level rise and extreme weather, making blue carbon research a national priority. The Divisional Forest Officer, Sindh Forest Department, Shehzad Sadiq Gill, explained how carbon credits and blue carbon financing enabled large-scale environmental protection, with Sindh’s mangrove cover expansion earning global recognition. He credited collaboration between government officials and local communities for this success.
He argued that community-led restoration, carbon-finance mechanisms, and science-based policy integration are essential for safeguarding livelihoods and ensuring that Pakistan’s coastal megacity can withstand the climate challenges of the coming decades.
Mangrove Ecologist and Chief Executive Officer of Services for Environment and Mangrove Protection Dr Kanwal Nazim presented field research showing sediment carbon stocks of 30-45 t C/ha at Keti Bunder and 28-36 t C/ha at Shah Bunder, with tree densities up to 3,088 trees/ha.
She emphasized these baselines as vital for verifying carbon credits and securing international financing, while also highlighting mangroves’ role in biodiversity protection and community resilience. Another speaker, the Director of the Climate Action Center, Karachi, Yasir Hussain, underscored how mangrove ecosystem services mitigate climate impacts and protect coastal cities.
A speaker from Department of Agriculture and Agribusiness Management, Dr M Talha Azeem, delivered a quantitative analysis of mangroves’ immense economic value. He cited Pakistan’s Delta Blue Carbon project as a global model for community-led restoration and carbon revenue generation.
He noted mangroves cover 14-15 million hectares across 123 countries, generate US$33,000-US$57,000 per hectare annually, and store about 1,023 Mg of carbon per hectare. Despite gains in mangrove cover, he urged stronger protection and proposed six interlocking policy recommendations.
In Pakistan, where coastal cities like Karachi face mounting threats from rising sea levels, cyclones, and unchecked urbanization, Dr M. Zaheer Ahmed of MAK-ISHU emphasized that mangroves and blue carbon ecosystems are not just ecological assets but strategic shields for national resilience.
Experts from Pakistan and Malaysia stressed that mangroves and coastal ecosystems are among the most valuable natural assets for protecting cities, storing carbon, and supporting livelihoods. They urged stronger conservation, community participation, and carbon-finance mechanisms to secure long-term resilience.
The seminar concluded with synthesizing remarks and a shield distribution ceremony recognizing organizers, speakers, and session leads. The event underscored the University of Karachi and MAK-ISHU’s commitment to advancing scientific solutions for sustainable urban futures during its historic Diamond Jubilee year.