In a bid to spread awareness about the marine ecosystem, the Consul General of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bakheet Ateeq Al-Remeithi released hundreds of baby green turtles into Karachi’s Arabian Sea.

Sindh Wildlife Department organized an event aimed at raising awareness about turtle conservation along Pakistan’s coastlines.

The ceremony included a screening of a documentary showcasing the annual turtle nesting along Pakistan’s coast, followed by the release of the tiny hatchlings into their ocean home. Local schoolchildren were also present, adding to the event’s educational impact.

Consul General Al-Remeithi highlighted the importance of protecting Pakistan’s coastal beauty and urged visitors to dispose of plastic waste responsibly, as it poses a serious threat to turtles.

He noted that UAE-style coastal facilities could enhance environmental stewardship in Sindh and Balochistan.

Sindh Wildlife Deputy Conservator Mumtaz Soomro shared that green turtles nest every year for breeding [August to February], with a conservation goal of 30,000 eggs this season.

Earlier to this, the Sindh Wildlife Department warned Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s (KMC) land department over alleged unauthorized construction on turtle nesting grounds along Hawkesbay Beach.

As reported by Dawn News, the wildlife department penned down a letter to KMC stating an FIR will be lodged if the KMC does not clarify the legal basis for allotting land and approving construction along the beach.

According to the wildlife department, the construction activities are endangering vital turtle nesting sites on Hawkesbay beach, impacting various protected marine species.

The letter stressed that recent developments along the shore have caused a marked increase in the number of female turtles unable to lay eggs, as they retreat to the sea due to habitat encroachment.

The Sindh Wildlife Protection Act, 2020, and related rules allow the department to act against unauthorized activities that harm wildlife.