Pakistan, Oct. 12 -- Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry says coastline and marine ecosystems are essential for hundreds of migratory bird species that support global biodiversity and help sustain local fisheries and communities.

In a message marking World Migratory Bird Day, Junaid Chaudhry called for stronger national and regional cooperation to protect coastal habitats that serve as vital stopovers for birds traveling across continents.

He noted that coastal and marine zones are part of the Indus Flyway, one of the world's major migratory routes linking Central Asia and Siberia with the Arabian Sea. "Every year, thousands of birds depend on our wetlands, mangrove forests, estuaries, and tidal creeks f...