Beaconhouse National University (BNU)

Dr. Wajiha Raza Rizvi, Head of MS Film & TV and Associate Professor at the Theatre, Film & TV (TFT) Department of the School of Media & Mass Communication (SMC) at BNU, recently participated in the 17th Annual Fulbright Alumni Conference on Climate Change. The conference, organized by the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan, took place at Marriott Islamabad. The event, attended by approximately 250 Fulbright alumni, was funded by the U.S. Mission to Pakistan and organized in collaboration with the Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN). The primary objective of the conference was to bring attention to the challenges posed by climate change and showcase the initiatives undertaken by Fulbright alumni to develop innovative solutions to address the climate crisis. Key highlights of the conference included reports on actions taken by alumni and their organizations to mitigate the impact of climate change on communities across Pakistan. USEFP Executive Director Rita Akhtar welcomed the guests and participants, followed by a keynote address from Founder Akhuwat, Dr. Amjad Saqib. U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, Donald Blome, emphasized the importance of alumni continuing to contribute to Pakistan's efforts in tackling climate change through groundbreaking research solutions. In a notable interaction, Dr. Wajiha Raza Rizvi stood alongside U.S. Ambassador Blome, who assumed his role as the U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan on April 11, 2022. Ambassador Blome, having previously served as the U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia, Chargé d'Affaires at the Libya External Office in Tunis, Tunisia, and Consul General at the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem, shared his insights on the significance of international collaboration in addressing global challenges. The Fulbright Program, as highlighted by Ambassador Blome, fosters exchanges and collaborations to address complex issues like climate change, emphasizing the vital role of people-to-people connections in making a positive difference on a global scale.