Karachi, Pakistan — The Global Neighbourhood for Media Innovation (GNMI) launched its latest initiative, “تحفظِ ماحولیاتی صحافت: Empowering Environmental Reporters for Climate Action,” at an event hosted at Karachi. The launch brought together senior journalists, civil society members, and climate reporters to discuss the challenges and urgent need for stronger protections for environmental journalism in Pakistan.
Distinguished participants included senior journalists Najia Ashar, Afia Salam, Syed Masood Raza, Hasan Belal Zaidi, and Naimat Khan, alongside civil society members Ahmad Shabbar and Yasir Darya, as well as climate beat reporters attended this event.
In her opening remarks, GNMI President Najia Ashar underlined the critical risks faced by environmental journalists: “Environmental journalism has become one of the most challenging reporting in the country, yet it is vital for our communities and our future. Protecting journalists and amplifying their voices is essential to ensuring accountability and driving climate action” she said.
Senior journalist and environmental expert Afia Salam presented a newly developed Monitoring Framework for Documenting Crimes and Impunity Against Environmental Journalists and Journalism. She explained how the framework will track threats, harassment, and attacks, building an evidence base for advocacy and policy reform. Senior broadcast journalist Syed Masood Raza stressed the need to equip journalists with digital tools and safety protocols to minimize the risks associated with field journalism.
Break-out sessions enabled participants, including journalists, academics, civil society members, and environmentalists, to share recommendations, case studies, and lived experiences. Discussions emphasized safety concerns, accountability, and the urgent need for specialized training in investigative and solution-oriented reporting.
Journalists from leading outlets echoed these concerns. Mahmood Alam of Froozan Magazine stressed prioritizing safety before field investigations, while Geo TV’s Waleed Ahmed highlighted the need for “solution journalism” to minimize risks. Ahmad Shabbar of The Environmentalist recounted pressures from officials to drop critical stories, and others anonymously shared experiences of censorship and intimidation. The event concluded with a call to action for greater collaboration between journalists, civil society, and policymakers. Participants commended GNMI’s leadership, describing the initiative.
