AS Pakistan faces increasingly intense summers and prolonged heatwaves, another silent health hazard often goes unnoticed: ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Every July, UV Safety Awareness Month serves as a global reminder that while sunlight is essential for life, excessive exposure to UV rays can cause irreversible damage to our skin and eyes. Protecting ourselves from harmful UV radiation is no longer merely a personal choice but an important public health responsibility.

Ultraviolet radiation, primarily UVA and UVB rays, is invisible but powerful. Moderate sun exposure helps the body produce vitamin D, yet prolonged and unprotected exposure can lead to sunburn, premature skin ageing, cataracts, suppression of the immune system and an increased risk of skin cancer. These health effects develop gradually, making UV radiation a “silent threat” that is often ignored until significant damage has already occurred.

In Pakistan, awareness of UV-related health risks remains limited.........

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