By Hina Kiyani
ISLAMABAD: Students of the Media Studies Department at National University of Modern Languages (NUML) organised an awareness campaign on the theme “Health on a Heating Planet” at Trail 5 in the Margalla Hills on Sunday in collaboration with the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board to highlight the growing impact of climate change on public health.
The awareness drive was conducted as part of the BS final year students’ practical media campaign project aimed at connecting academic learning with community engagement and environmental advocacy under the supervision of Dr Faiza Khalid.
Students carrying banners, placards and informational posters interacted with hikers, families and visitors along the trail and spread awareness about the health risks associated with rising temperatures, heatwaves and environmental degradation.
The campaign focused on issues including dehydration, heatstroke, respiratory illnesses, skin diseases, air pollution and mental stress linked to extreme weather conditions. Participants also distributed free plant saplings among visitors to encourage tree planting and promote environmentally responsible behaviour.
Director of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board Sakhawat Ali, Assistant Director Zakir Ali and Trail Supervisor Imran Khan attended the activity and appreciated the students’ efforts to educate the public on climate-related health challenges and environmental conservation.
“Public awareness is the first step towards climate resilience and environmental protection. Such youth-led initiatives help educate citizens about the serious health impacts of climate change,” said Sakhawat Ali while speaking to participants during the campaign.
Known environmental awareness advocate Mansoor Sherwani also joined the students during the activity and encouraged visitors to play an active role in protecting natural ecosystems and promoting sustainable lifestyles.
Students, including Sawaira Safeer, Zarmina and Muhammad Shariyar, said the campaign aimed to inform citizens that climate change was no longer only an environmental issue but an emerging public health challenge affecting everyday life.
“People often underestimate how rising temperatures directly impact human health. Through this campaign, we wanted to encourage citizens to adopt safer and more environmentally conscious practices,” the students said.
The organisers said Trail 5 was selected for the campaign due to the large number of daily visitors and hikers who frequent the Margalla Hills, particularly on weekends, making it an effective location for public outreach and awareness activities.
Participants noted that Pakistan remained among the countries highly vulnerable to climate change and had experienced increasingly intense summers, erratic weather patterns and frequent heatwaves in recent years.
Several hikers and families stopped to interact with the students, received informational material and appreciated the initiative, with many visitors taking plant saplings home as part of the awareness drive.
Faculty supervisor Dr Faiza Khalid said such campaigns were essential to promoting civic responsibility, climate awareness and youth participation in environmental action.
The organisers said similar initiatives would continue in the future to promote climate resilience, environmental conservation and healthy lifestyles in public spaces across the federal capital.
