The Women Development Studies Center at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi organised a Pink Ribbon Day seminar focused on breast cancer awareness, underlining the importance of regular screenings, self-examinations and early diagnosis to improve survival and outcomes. Experts and campus leaders explained practical steps women can take and encouraged students and staff to adopt preventive habits.
Prof. Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman, Vice Chancellor of PMAS-AAUR, said breast cancer awareness must extend beyond annual campaigns into a continuous programme of prevention, early detection and education. He highlighted that lifestyle choices such as diet, exercise and timely check-ups play a key role in reducing risk factors and stressed the need for accessible screening services on campus and in the wider community.
Dr. Qaisara Parveen, Director of the Women Development Studies Center, emphasised that support networks are essential and called for family-level awareness so no woman faces breast cancer alone. She urged families to learn about self-examination techniques and to provide emotional and psychological support to patients, noting that encouragement from loved ones greatly affects recovery and wellbeing.
The event concluded with an awareness walk that saw participation from the Vice Chancellor along with the registrar, deans, directors, faculty members, administration and a large number of students, reflecting strong campus-wide commitment to breast cancer awareness. Attendees were reminded of the importance of timely screenings, regular self-exams and seeking medical advice at the first sign of concern, reinforcing the message that early detection saves lives.
