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World Wide Fund for Nature Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan) has praised the Government of Balochistan for declaring Miani Hor as the country’s third Marine Protected Area (MPA).
This decision was approved during a cabinet meeting, earlier, Astola Island was declared Pakistan’s first MPA in 2017, followed by Churna Island in 2024. All three sites are known for their rich marine biodiversity.
Miani Hor, located in Lasbela District, is the largest lagoon along the Balochistan coast. It supports thriving mangrove forests, including all three naturally occurring species (Avicennia marina, Rhizophora mucronata, and Ceriops tagal) found in Pakistan.
The area also serves as a vital fishing ground, supporting thousands of local fishermen and related industries.
Two seasonal rivers, Windar and Titian, flow into Miani Hor. Despite this, the lagoon maintains strong oceanic currents and marine characteristics. In May 2001, it was designated a Ramsar Site, recognizing its global importance as a wetland. The mangrove forest was later declared a Protected Forest in September 2022.
WWF-Pakistan warned that Miani Hor’s ecosystem faces threats such as overfishing, bird hunting, and climate change. The declaration of MPA status will help protect this fragile habitat.
WWF also acknowledged the efforts of Abdul Fatah Bhangar, Secretary, Forest and Wildlife Department, and Sharifuddin Baloch, Chief Conservator, Wildlife. Their commitment played a key role in achieving MPA status for Miani Hor.
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Pakistan, a signatory of the Convention on Biological Diversity, must designate 30pc of its ocean area as protected by 2030 under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Declaring Miani Hor as an MPA brings the country closer to this 30×30 target.
WWF-Pakistan’s Senior Director, Rab Nawaz, urged the federal and other provincial governments to follow Balochistan’s lead.
He emphasized the urgent need to protect marine life, stating, “This initiative will reverse the damage and protect our marine resources for future generations.”
Muhammad Moazzam Khan, WWF-Pakistan’s Technical Advisor, highlighted that Miani Hor is home to 200 species of fish, 90 bird species, and 3 types of dolphins.
It supports migratory birds such as flamingos, pelicans, cranes, and falcons. He also praised the coastal communities, IUCN, and other partners for their contributions to this achievement.
Miani Hor is also growing as an eco-tourism hub. Tourists visit for dolphin watching, birding, picnics, dune safaris, and sport fishing. WWF-Pakistan started promoting eco-tourism here over 20 years ago.
Today, it provides an alternative income source for local communities. The new MPA status is expected to boost tourism further and improve the socio-economic conditions of nearby residents.
