Forman Christian College (A Chartered University) welcomes the opportunity to host the ICA Regional Conference 2024 on Climate and Communication in Lahore, Pakistan.

Scholars from Pakistan are certainly well placed to enrich the dialogue on communications as it relates to climate, considering that Pakistan is one of the most water-stressed and climate-stressed countries in the world. Partly, this relates to Pakistan’s status as the fifth most populous country in the world while also ranking among both the youngest and fastest-growing countries in Asia.

Against this demographic backdrop, Pakistan stands to benefit from international engagements like this, providing opportunities to share its experience while also learning from the experiences of others. In particular, “lessons learned” at both the regional and global levels can be directly relevant for Pakistan as it faces a period of tremendous challenge and change.

In recent months, Forman has hosted a number of international conferences covering issues related to water, demography, marginalized communities, communications, and climate change. Among other things, these conferences demonstrate the usefulness of multiple perspectives as well as interdisciplinary approaches involving a wide range of views and academic disciplines.

Established in 1864, the history of Forman is deeply rooted in the history of Lahore: it was the first institution of higher learning in what was then North India to admit women and offer degrees to women; its alumni list includes presidents, prime ministers, governors, academics and business leaders in both Pakistan and India; and over the decades its faculty have contributed in a myriad of ways, having written numerous books, received countless fellowships and even been awarded one Nobel prize for physics!

The diversity of Pakistan is also well reflected on the Forman campus, with faculty having earned advanced degrees from 21 countries and students representing a wide range of religions, ethnic groups, geographic regions, and socio-economic backgrounds. 

Finally, Forman’s “garden” campus offers one of the “greenest” spaces in Pakistan’s second-largest city, renowned for its history, culture, and cuisine. We look forward to welcoming you to Lahore for what promises to be an interesting and stimulating conference on a topic that is urgent, important, and relevant, both for Pakistan and for the world.