Healthy growth: AIOU develops design to promote outdoor activities

ISLAMABAD:

The Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has developed a design, through a research study, to expand outdoor spaces in the twin cities for physical activities of adolescent school girls.

The study was conducted in collaboration with Pakistan Institute for Environment Development Action Research (PIEDAR) and Pakistan Strategy Support Programme of Planning Commission, funded by USAID.

The research findings were presented at a seminar, presided by AIOU Vice-Chancellor Dr Shahid Siddiqui, at the main campus.

The proposed design suggests ways and means to improve safety, security, accessibility, comfort and provision of the facilities in specific parks and playgrounds of schools and colleges in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

AIOU Department of Home and Health Sciences Chairperson Dr Nomana Anjum gave a detailed presentation on the research-based study.

She said local town planners, and education and health specialists were consulted for practical and cost-effective measures to improve access of adolescent girls to outdoor physical activities.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 12^th, 2015.