LAHORE: (Monday, December 15, 2025): Punjab University Department of Public Health (DPH) hosted a panel discussion on “Violence against Women: A Public Health Concern” as part of the UN Women 16 days of Activism against Gender-based Violence Campaign. On this occasion, In-Charge Department of Public Health Dr Nauman Ali Chaudhry, Convener of the Central Standing Committee on National Economic Policies & Reforms at FPCCI Ms. Sam Dada, public health expert Prof Dr Rubeena Zakar, Senior Law Officer, Women Development Department Imran Javaid Qureshi, ACC-Certified Coach Dr Zuha Khan, faculty members and students were present. In his address, Dr Nauman emphasized on the prevalence of digital violence and its adverse consequences on well-being of women. He said that this community; playing an integral role in cultivating and establishing a prosperous society needs to be equipped with better safety protocols and knowledge around the topic. Therefore, it is imperative that institutions, policymakers, and communities work collectively to confront this crisis before it continues to negatively impact the integrity of our society, he added. The panel discussed the diverse forms of violence faced by women in Pakistan, emphasizing the urgent need for public health interventions and acknowledging the severe mental health impacts on survivors. Speakers discussed the existing legal protections and policy reforms that have been formulated and implemented at national and provincial levels. They highlighted the importance of financial independence of women as key strategy for safety and resilience against all forms of violence. This session reaffirmed the critical role of academia in fostering long term societal change for building a safer and equitable community for all women and girls.