Pakistan’s leaders unite to reimagine climate-resilient cities, communities

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Aga Khan University’s (AKU) Institute for Global Health and Development (IGHD) has brought together Pakistan’s leading architects, planners, public health experts, development specialists, and government representatives to address one of the country’s most pressing national challenges: how to redesign homes, neighbourhoods, and public systems to withstand intensifying climate pressures in both urban and rural settings. 

The dialogue unfolded at IGHD’s Annual Conference on Climate Change and the Built Environment, hosted in partnership with Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Pakistan, under the leadership of Professor Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Founding Director of IGHD. This year’s theme, “Climate Change and the Built Environment: Promoting Resilience & Adaptation in Low-Income Settings,” set the stage for a day focused on evidence, solutions and innovative approaches. 

Underscoring the gravity of the issues being addressed at the conference, His Highness the Aga Khan, in a statement read at the event, emphasized that, “Climate change is one of the greatest threat multipliers of our era. Its impacts intensify disease, malnutrition, displacement, learning loss, and poverty. These burdens fall disproportionately upon women, children, older adults, and marginalized communities. Addressing them is not optional; it is imperative for equity, stability, and sustainable development.” 

His Highness further stressed that, “Progress in addressing climate change will depend on partnership,” and welcomed many of collaborators attending from across Pakistan, Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia. 

The inaugural session welcomed Chief Guest His Excellency Tariq Khan, High Commissioner of Canada to Pakistan, followed by a Special Message from Honourable Minister Professor Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Government of Pakistan, who joined the conference virtually. “Canada is helping countries like Pakistan confront climate-driven vulnerabilities,” said His Excellency Tariq Khan. 

“The ideas shared at this conference can help shape a more sustainable future for millions of people.” Delivering a special message via Zoom, Honourable Minister Professor Ahsan Iqbal highlighted the national urgency for climate adaptation. 

“Pakistan’s future will depend on how boldly we reimagine our cities, homes, and public institutions in the face of climate change. Building resilience is not optional, it is a national development priority. Conferences like this help translate research into policies that enable safer, more inclusive, and climate-adaptive environments for all Pakistanis.” 

The conference’s opening day featured keynote presentations by Professor Sajida Haider Vandal (THAAP), Christopher Burman and Joseph Augustine (UCL), and Dr Zahra Hussain (Laajverd), showcasing climate-smart architecture, indigenous design approaches, and community-led adaptation innovations. 

“Pakistan’s future will depend on how boldly we reimagine our cities, homes, and public institutions in the face of climate change,” said Chief Guest Professor Ahsan Iqbal, underscoring the national urgency for climate action. “Building resilience is not optional, it is a national development priority. Conferences like this help translate research into policies that enable safer, more inclusive, and climate-adaptive environments for all Pakistanis.” 

Addressing the audience, Dr Sulaiman Shahabuddin, President of AKU, reaffirmed the University’s commitment to advancing climate resilience, saying, “Climate change is reshaping every aspect of life in Pakistan. Our responsibility as a university is to help the country design smarter, safer, more resilient environments. AKU is committed to generating evidence, solutions, and partnerships that support climate adaptation at scale.” 

 The inaugural session concluded with reflections outlining a pathway for the remainder of the conference, which will explore rural adaptation models, climate-resilient health systems, indigenous solutions, community-led innovations, and a high-level national policy panel.

Voices from Roof of the World to launch Season 4

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Voices from the Roof of the World (VRW), the internationally recognized documentary series highlighting the far-reaching impact of environmental change across Central and South Asia, is set to launch its fourth season. The new season amplifies urgent climate narratives, focusing on air pollution, rising heat, glacier retreat, water scarcity, and the resilience of communities confronting these challenges in the third pole, also known as the ‘Roof of the World’. 

This region’s glaciers provide life-sustaining water to an estimated 1.6 billion people living downstream. As Pakistan faces one of the most severe environmental periods in its history, the climate crisis has become a daily reality. 

In recent years, the country has felt the force of climate change most vividly through the surge in intense rainstorms that have triggered devastating floods and landslides, causing widespread loss of life and extensive damage to homes and infrastructure. These events have been compounded by the rapid melting of glaciers, which has increased the scale and severity of flooding. 

Alongside these disasters, Pakistan is facing an ever-deepening air pollution emergency that harms every form of life. The country ranks among the five most polluted in the world, and millions in Punjab are seeking treatment for respiratory illnesses, especially children. It’s widely recognized that developing countries contribute the least to global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and industry, yet bear the brunt of the impacts. 

Pakistan is just one stark example. Against this backdrop, “Color of Smog,” one of VRW season one’s films directed by Jawad Sharif, showcases Lahore’s spiraling smog emergency. Once known for its gardens, Lahore now ranks high among the world’s most polluted cities. 

“Smog in Lahore is not just a figure but a daily reality that shapes how people breathe, move, and imagine their futures. Behind every air quality reading are families trying to protect their health and dignity. Through VRW and films like Color of Smog, we hope audiences can clearly see how the climate crisis is already unfolding around us and why meaningful action can no longer wait,” the Director, Jawad Sharif, reckoned. 

The VRW’s Executive Producer Andrew Tkach, eight-time Emmy Award winner who brings over 30 years of experience, is also mentoring young filmmakers and helping them shape their ideas into impactful stories. 

"The VRW was created to highlight the climate emergency from the perspective of the people who live it every day. In Season 4, we shed light on communities confronting melting glaciers and vanishing forests, but also more hopeful stories of saving falcons and reviving ancient water canals. These stories make one thing clear: the environment is changing faster than we are responding,” Andrew Tkach revealed. 

The series has won numerous honours and awards including Columbia University Journalism School’s John B. Oakes Award for Distinguished Environmental Journalism. The VRW episodes have been selected and screened at over 50 international film festivals worldwide. 

“The VRW’s unique expression of local realities highlights the impact of climate change on the lives and the cultures of the vulnerable communities whilst narrating the story of a changing era. These films are not distant warnings, they are reflections of the challenges communities are facing right now across Pakistan and the region,” Laila Naz Taj, Director AKDN Pakistan Communications, explained. 

The VRW is a joint initiative of the Aga Khan University (AKU), the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH), the University of Central Asia (UCA), and the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), made possible through the generous support of Ross Beaty, the Jenabai Hussainali Shariff Family, the Sitka Foundation, Gulshan Kassamali Jiwa Family, and Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan Fund for the Environment. Across three seasons, VRW has produced 30 documentaries from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Nepal and beyond, available in English, Urdu, and Russian, with Arabic versions also planned.

Court validates Zakir Ali Khan panel’s victory in AMUOBA elections

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The court has issued a detailed judgment on November 21, 2025 in suit number 8838-2025, ruling in favour of Akbar Ali Khan. The petition filed by Irshad Khan, Farrukh Nizami, Javed Anwar, and Munawar Hussain seeking the appointment of an administrator has been fully dismissed. The elections held on February 26, 2025 have also been declared free and fair. 

The victory of the Zakir Ali Khan panel has been officially endorsed by the higher judiciary. In its detailed judgment released on November 21, 2025, the court has ruled that the February 26, 2025 elections were conducted in a completely transparent and lawful manner. 

The court upheld the stance of Akbar Ali Khan, Chancellor of Sir Syed University, ruling decisively in his favour. All petitions submitted by the plaintiffs, Irshad Khan, Farrukh Nizami, Javed Anwar, and Munawar Hussain, were rejected in their entirety. 

The court observed that the objections raised were irrelevant, ineffective, and lacked evidentiary support, making the request for appointment of an administrator unacceptable. 

According to the judgment, the current elected executive committee will continue to perform its duties as before, while all objections related to the voters’ list, membership, and election procedures have been dismissed by the court. 

It is noteworthy that the Zakir Ali Khan panel has remained undefeated since 2015, and following this judicial verdict, the voter confidence in the panel has reportedly further strengthened. 

The court’s confirmation of electoral transparency has reinforced the panel’s public support. With this landmark judgment, the Zakir Ali Khan panel’s emphatic victory has been formally validated by the higher judiciary, reaffirming the organization’s legal, democratic, and constitutional standing

Pakistani researchers named among world’s top scientists

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Over two dozen scholars from the Aga Khan University (AKU) have been named among the World's Top 2% Scientists List for 2024 by the Stanford University. The list includes faculty members and alumni from Pakistan whose research continues to shape health, education and other critical sectors in the developing world. 

The annual list, considered one of the most respected global benchmarks, identifies leading researchers across a wide range of disciplines. These include health care services and delivery, education, climate science, economics, mental health, and the well-being of vulnerable groups such as women and children. 

The rankings are based on standardized citation data from Elsevier’s Scopus database, which assesses the influence of scientists through academic citations and the quality of the peer-reviewed journals where their work appears. 

From Pakistan, over 20 esteemed individuals from the AKU feature on this year’s elite list. Among them are Dr Zulfiqar A Bhutta, Dr Salim S. Virani, Dr Romaina Iqbal, and Dr Jai Kumar Das; scholars whose work has made a lasting impact on the quality of life for the people in Pakistan and abroad. Many hold leadership positions at various national and international agencies and represent the multitude of scholars at the AKU who are contributing at the highest level internationally. 

Collectively, the AKU’s research has influenced 5,347 policy documents in 25 countries, including the WHO, World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization and UNICEF. 

Their work has advanced standards of care, strengthened evidence-based policymaking, and inspired generations of professionals dedicated to serving their communities and pushing the boundaries of health, education and research. 

“These rankings reflect not only the incredible talent housed within AKU but also the University’s steadfast dedication to fostering an environment of excellence. We have consistently invested in state-of-the-art research facilities and fostered collaborations with world-leading institutions to encourage the pursuit of quality and innovation in our research,” Dr Salim S. Virani, Vice Provost, Research, and Professor of Medicine, at the AKU, observed. 

The recognition also highlights Pakistan’s growing presence in global research and the calibre of scientists the country continues to produce through research-led institutions like the AKU. 

By appearing in such global rankings, the AKU strengthens its ability to attract collaborations, funding, and top talent, all of which help fulfil its mission of advancing education, health and development in Pakistan and the developing world.