The Centre for South Asian Studies (CSAS), University of the Punjab, organized an awareness seminar titled “Few Moments for Life: Cancer Awareness—Self-Examination, Early Detection and Preventive Awareness” as part of the national breast cancer awareness campaign initiated by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Islamabad. The HEC-initiated campaign seeks to engage higher education institutions in promoting breast cancer awareness, preventive healthcare, early detection, and informed health practices. The campaign includes awareness sessions for faculty members, workshops for students, and the dissemination of educational materials among universities across Pakistan. In this connection, CSAS has taken an active academic and institutional role in bringing the campaign to the university community through expert-led awareness and educational engagement. Welcoming the guests and participants, Prof. Dr. Naheed S. Goraya, Director CSAS emphasized the responsibility of universities to contribute to society not only through teaching and research but also by creating awareness on issues of direct public significance. Dr. Goraya noted that academic institutions provide an effective platform for connecting professional knowledge with communities and encouraging informed and responsible approaches to major social and public health concerns. She further highlighted the importance of sustained awareness efforts in enabling individuals to recognize the value of prevention, early attention, and reliable health information. Prof. Dr. Robina Zakir, Dean, Faculty of Behavioral & Social Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, attended the seminar as the Chief Guest. Addressing the participants, she appreciated the initiative of the Director CSAS for placing breast cancer awareness within an academic setting and emphasized the importance of addressing myths and misconceptions that continue to surround the disease. She stressed that greater awareness, access to credible information, appropriate preventive practices, and timely consultation with qualified healthcare professionals are essential elements of responsible health awareness.

The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Khan, an internationally recognized physician and public health Specialist at Al Khor Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar. Drawing upon his professional experience, Dr. Khan provided participants with an informative and detailed presentation on breast cancer awareness, self-examination, early detection, prevention, and timely medical consultation. Dr. Khan emphasized that awareness and health literacy are fundamental to encouraging timely action. He explained the importance of being attentive to changes in one's health and understanding when professional medical advice should be sought. Dr. Khan also highlighted the dangers of relying on myths, misinformation, fear, or stigma and encouraged participants to seek appropriate guidance from qualified healthcare professionals rather than delaying consultation. The keynote further focused on the broader importance of disseminating accurate health information within families, educational institutions, and communities. Dr. Khan encouraged participants to regard awareness not merely as individual knowledge but as a shared social responsibility, whereby informed individuals can contribute to creating greater understanding of breast cancer and the importance of early attention.

Adding a significant academic dimension to the initiative, Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Khan announced that a free certification course on breast cancer and oncology awareness would be offered to participants, providing them an opportunity to deepen their understanding through structured learning. The Centre for South Asian Studies will serve as the institutional facilitating channel between the participants and the certification programme, coordinating and facilitating access to the course and the subsequent certification process. Upon completion of the prescribed requirements, participants will be awarded certificates in formal recognition of their engagement and learning. This initiative extends the impact of the seminar beyond a single awareness event and reflects CSAS’s role in connecting expert-led knowledge, accessible learning opportunities, and academically recognized certification for the university community.