Pakistan Joins Historic UN Treaty to Protect Ocean Biodiversity

On July 22, 2025, Pakistan marked a major milestone in global environmental diplomacy by signing the BBNJ Agreement—the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction.

The treaty was signed at the UN Headquarters in New York by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to protecting marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ).

The BBNJ Agreement creates a long-awaited legal framework for managing and conserving marine life in international waters. It emphasizes key goals like:

• Equitable sharing of marine genetic resources
• Establishing marine protected areas
• Conducting environmental impact assessments
• Facilitating capacity-building and tech transfer to developing countries

Pakistan played a leading role during the negotiation phase in 2022, serving as Chair of the Group of 77 and China. Throughout the process, the country advocated for fair access to marine resources, benefit-sharing, and support for nations with limited research or technological capacity—reflecting the principle of the common heritage of humankind.

Posts on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) praised Pakistan’s proactive engagement, especially in a time when global ocean ecosystems are under mounting threat from overfishing, deep-sea mining, and pollution.

This move also builds on Pakistan’s earlier maritime accomplishments, such as the 2015 expansion of its continental shelf by 50,000 square kilometers, further cementing its growing stake in marine sustainability and governance.

By joining the BBNJ Agreement, Pakistan strengthens its position as a responsible player in multilateral environmental cooperation, taking tangible steps to protect the planet’s shared resources in a rapidly warming world.

Published in SouthAsianDesk, July 22nd, 2025

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