As the impacts of climate change become increasingly visible across Pakistan, a powerful documentary screening hosted by Aga Khan University (AKU) on World Environment Day brought urgent attention to the challenges facing some of the country’s most vulnerable communities.

Held at Habitt City in Karachi, the public screening featured The Sky is Far, The Earth is Tough, a documentary directed by acclaimed filmmaker and two-time Emmy Award winner Haya Fatima Iqbal. Part of the Voices from the Roof of the World (VRW) documentary series, the film offers a compelling exploration of how climate change and natural disasters are affecting the physical health, livelihoods, and mental well-being of mountain communities in Northern Pakistan.

The event brought together filmmakers, environmental advocates, students, academics, and social change makers to engage in meaningful discussions about the escalating environmental challenges confronting climate-vulnerable populations. Through intimate storytelling and striking visuals, the documentary highlighted both the resilience and hardships experienced by communities living on the frontlines of environmental change.

The screening was followed by an insightful discussion featuring experts and filmmakers who examined the growing threats facing Pakistan’s northern regions. Participants noted that mountain areas are warming at a significantly faster rate than the global average, accelerating glacier melt and increasing the frequency of flash floods and landslides. These environmental changes have disrupted infrastructure, displaced families, and created long-term economic uncertainty for communities that have contributed little to global carbon emissions.

Addressing the audience, Dr. Rozina Karmaliani, Associate Director for South and Central Asia at AKU’s Brain and Mind Institute, emphasized the need to recognize climate change as both an environmental and humanitarian crisis.

“The climate crisis in our northern regions is no longer a distant threat; it is an active humanitarian challenge that demands immediate attention,” she said. “We must integrate mental health into climate disaster response. Through Voices from the Roof of the World, our goal is to bring the lived realities of these mountain communities to the forefront. Visual storytelling allows people to see beyond statistics and understand the true human cost as well as the resilience of those living amid environmental collapse.”

The conversation also focused on the importance of education in fostering environmental resilience. Dr. Fozia Parveen, Assistant Professor at AKU’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences, stressed the need to equip younger generations with the knowledge and tools required to confront climate challenges.

“Integrating climate change awareness into our educational framework is vital if we want to build lasting community resilience,” she noted. “Environmental sustainability education can empower young people to understand, adapt to, and advocate against the climate realities rapidly transforming vulnerable regions.”

Director Haya Fatima Iqbal highlighted the emotional and psychological dimensions of climate-induced displacement, emphasizing that the loss of ancestral lands and recurring natural disasters leave deep and often overlooked scars on affected populations.

“The trauma experienced by these communities extends far beyond physical destruction,” she said. “Environmental advocacy must move beyond statistics to acknowledge the profound human suffering and psychological impacts that accompany environmental collapse.”

The discussion also featured sustainability and climate change specialist Tariq Essa, who outlined the role that businesses and individuals can play in reducing their carbon footprint and contributing to climate solutions. His remarks reinforced the importance of collective action as climate-related challenges continue to intensify globally.

The event underscored the growing significance of documentary storytelling and public engagement in shaping awareness around environmental issues. By bringing together experts, filmmakers, and community voices, initiatives such as Voices from the Roof of the World help foster informed dialogue and inspire action on one of the defining challenges of our time.

The award-winning VRW documentary series amplifies the experiences of climate-vulnerable communities across Central and South Asia affected by floods, droughts, biodiversity loss, and other environmental crises. The initiative is a collaborative effort of Aga Khan University, the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat, the Aga Khan Foundation, and the University of Central Asia.