Pakistan (Commonwealth Union)_ At the COP28 conference in the UAE, a Pakistani school achieved a remarkable victory by securing the coveted Zayed Sustainability Prize, amounting to $100,000. This recognition was conferred upon the institution for its exemplary standing as the foremost Global School in South Asia, particularly lauded for its ingenuity in the realms of water conservation and organic farming. The momentous occasion unfolded during the UN climate conference in Dubai, where the institution, operated by the Kashmir Orphan Relief Trust (KORT), triumphed over stiff competition from two other finalists representing India and Bangladesh.
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In attendance at Expo City in Dubai were two young representatives from the KORT, witnessing the conferment of the award by the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. The Zayed Sustainability Prize, a testament to the enduring legacy of the UAE’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, distinguishes and rewards entities, ranging from small and medium enterprises to non-profit organizations and high schools, that exhibit commendable efforts in addressing challenges related to health, food, energy, water, and climate.
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Over the past 15 years, this prestigious prize has been bestowed upon 106 recipients, collectively impacting the lives of an impressive 384 million people globally. Sumaiya Bibi, a 19-year-old representative of the trust, articulated the essence of their award-winning project, emphasizing the criticality of water conservation in the face of an anticipated depletion of clean drinking water in Pakistan by the year 2025. Having endured the loss of her parents during the 2005 earthquake in Kashmir, she discovered a renewed sense of purpose by dedicating herself to climate-related initiatives.
Bibi expounded on the trust’s vision, outlining plans to implement water filtration plants and sensor taps within their school premises as proactive measures to curtail water wastage. Additionally, their aspiration involves establishing a school-based kitchen garden through organic farming, ensuring that children derive nutrition from organically cultivated produce. She said, “Our project is on water conservation because, in 2025, clean drinking water will finish in Pakistan. We want to set up water filtration plants and sensor taps in our school to minimize water wastage”. She added, “We also want to set up a kitchen garden in our school through organic farming so that the children can get nutrition from the organically grown food.”
The KORT School and College of Excellence, situated in Azad Kashmir and inaugurated in 2016 to cater to children orphaned by the devastating earthquake, presently serves over 500 students. Notably, the trust extended its outreach by inaugurating another school in Swabi in October with the capacity to accommodate 450 children. Kinza Bibi, another 19-year-old student from the educational institution in Kashmir, echoed the commitment of the trust by expressing a desire for the school’s children to be educated on the imperative of preserving clean water. The founding chairman of the organization, Chaudhry Mohammed Akhtar, articulated the strategic utilization of the prize money towards initiatives centered on clean water and organic farming in rural areas.
The roster of 11 winners for this year’s prize, elected in September by a discerning panel of jury members, showcased their impactful, innovative, and inspiring solutions in six distinct categories, including health, food, energy, water, climate action, and global high schools. This year’s laureates collectively shared a substantial prize fund of $3.6 million, signifying their pioneering contributions aimed at transforming lives and expediting environmental change on a global scale.
