KARACHI: To mark World Environment Day, Aga Khan University (AKU) organized a public screening of the documentary "The Sky is Far, The Earth is Tough," directed by Haya Fatima Iqbal, at Habitt City. The event was part of the Voices from the Roof of the World documentary series, which addresses the impact of natural disasters and climate change on the physical and mental well-being of mountain communities in Northern Pakistan.
According to Aga Khan University, the film provided an in-depth examination of the resilience and vulnerabilities faced by these communities. Filmmakers, climate advocates, students, and change-makers came together to discuss the urgent environmental crises affecting these populations. Experts highlighted the accelerated warming of mountain regions, which exceeds global averages, leading to glacial melt and catastrophic flash floods that disrupt infrastructure and cause displacement and economic instability.
"The climate crisis in our northern regions is no longer a distant threat; it is an active humanitarian challenge that demands immediate attention," said Dr. Rozina Karmaliani, Associate Director, South and Central Asia, Brain and Mind Institute. The discussions emphasized integrating mental health into climate disaster response and the importance of visual storytelling in understanding the human cost of environmental collapse.
Dr. Fozia Parveen, Assistant Professor at AKU's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, stressed the need for integrating climate change awareness into education to build lasting community resilience. Filmmaker Haya Fatima Iqbal and sustainability specialist Tariq Essa also spoke on evolving environmental advocacy beyond statistics to address psychological impacts and the role of businesses and individuals in reducing carbon footprints.
Sponsored by Primero, the screening highlighted the Voices from the Roof of the World series, an initiative supported by multiple organizations, including the Aga Khan University, to amplify voices from climate-vulnerable communities in Central and South Asia. The project aims to raise global awareness about the ecological crises facing these populations through impactful environmental journalism and storytelling.