In a remarkable achievement, a Pakistani school managed by the Kashmir Orphan Relief Trust (KORT) secured the esteemed Zayed Sustainability Prize, valued at $100,000, at the UN climate conference in Dubai. The school was honored as the best Global School in South Asia for its pioneering project centered on water conservation and organic farming, outshining finalists from India and Bangladesh with its innovative approach to addressing climate challenges.
The award ceremony, held at Expo City in Dubai, saw the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, presenting the accolade. The Zayed Sustainability Prize, named in honor of UAE’s founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, recognizes initiatives by small and medium enterprises, non-profit organizations, and high schools addressing health, food, energy, water, and climate issues.
Sumaiya Bibi, a 19-year-old representative of KORT, emphasized the urgency of their water conservation project, noting the anticipated depletion of clean drinking water in Pakistan by 2025. She reiterated the school’s commitment to installing water filtration plants, sensor taps to minimize water wastage, and establishing a kitchen garden through organic farming for nutritional benefits.
The KORT School and College of Excellence, situated in Azad Kashmir, was established in 2016 to support children orphaned in the 2005 earthquake. Catering to over 500 students, the institution provides education, boarding facilities, food, clothing, and medical care. The prize money will be utilized for clean water and organic farming projects in rural areas, according to Chaudhry Mohammed Akhtar, the founding chairman of the organization.
This year’s Zayed Sustainability Prize, distributed across various categories, boasts a total prize fund of $3.6 million. These innovative solutions aim to transform lives and contribute to global environmental sustainability.
