Selected film Makran Coast – The Lost Marvel of Biodiversity
About the film
Astola Island, along Pakistan’s Makran Coast, reveals a fragile yet rapidly declining marine ecosystem shaped by human impact and neglect. Through the journey of divers and conservationists, the documentary uncovers the hidden crisis beneath the Arabian Sea, ghost nets entangled in reefs, suffocating coral ecosystems, and trapping marine life in a deadly, endless cycle. Despite cleanup efforts by trained divers, abandoned fishing nets continue to reappear, turning vibrant underwater habitats into zones of destruction. The film highlights the absence of proper waste management, with untreated urban waste from Karachi flowing directly into the sea, further damaging marine biodiversity. Coral reefs, often misunderstood as rocks rather than living organisms, are uprooted by careless anchoring and destructive fishing practices. Once-rich marine zones are now nearing ecological collapse, forcing local fishing communities to travel farther for diminishing catch. Through powerful visuals and lived experiences, the documentary calls for urgent awareness, policy action, and collective responsibility to protect Pakistan’s vanishing ocean heritage.

Syed Hasnain Raza

Syed Hasnain Raza is an environmental filmmaker, educator, and founder of MPCEN (Media Project on Conservation, Environment, and Nature). With over a decade of experience, he has filmed across Pakistan, Malaysia, Singapore, Southeast Asia, Africa, Germany, and the UAE, capturing diverse ecosystems and human stories connected to nature. His work focuses on climate justice, wildlife conservation, and human-nature relationships, exploring issues from coastal biodiversity along the Makran coast to urban pollution and energy transitions. His films have been recognized at international platforms and film festivals, with collaborations including WWF, ICFJ, and Terra Mater Studios. Through initiatives like The Climate Bulletin and Pakistan Wildlife and Eco Film Festival (PIWEFF), he amplifies underrepresented environmental voices and inspires action for a sustainable future.