Samaa TV Digital journalist Wajid Ali has won a climate change journalism competition organized by the British High Commission in Islamabad, earning praise for highlighting the overlooked vulnerabilities of Pakistan’s street workers.
The contest invited journalists from across the country to present fresh perspectives on the climate crisis.
Among the entries, the feature story submitted by Wajid Ali from Samaa Digital distinguished itself for its emphasis on street workers, a group that contributes substantially to Pakistan’s economy while remaining directly exposed to rising temperatures and environmental risks.
A key insight from Wajid’s story, titled ‘How Pakistan’s street workers see climate change as God’s will’, was the belief among many street workers that climate impacts occur solely because of God’s will. By involving scholars, he created a bridge between belief and evidence -- helping vulnerable communities understand that human actions contribute to climate change and that solutions also lie in human hands.
To celebrate Wajid’s win, British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriot invited the journalist to her residence in Islamabad’s Diplomatic Enclave. Also in attendance were climate journalism leads Sneha Lala, Nimra Zaheer, and Rabia Malik.
High Commissioner Marriott acknowledged the strength of Wajid’s arguments and said she wished to incorporate his recommendations into future climate initiatives. She said future programmes may include religious scholars and faith leaders to strengthen public understanding of climate change.
She also said journalists must work together to advance solution-driven climate reports, adding that such cooperation is essential for efforts to help Pakistan build resilience amid an accelerating climate crisis.
