AJK school lands Zayed Sustainability Prize of $100,000 at COP28

MIRPUR: A prestigious accolade was bestowed upon an Azad Kashmir school, the Kashmir Orphan Relief Trust (Kort) Educational and Residential Complex, as it clinched the Zayed Sustainability Prize during the COP28 conference held in Dubai.

The school received the prize of $100,000 after being declared the best Global School in South Asia for its innovative project on water conservation and organic farming, Arab News reported.

Kort Educational and Residential Complex emerged victorious in the Global High Schools (South Asia) category, making waves for its commendable efforts in sustainable farming. Established in Mirpur with the backing of overseas Pakistanis following the catastrophic earthquake of 2005, the institution stands as a beacon, providing education and housing for an impressive 1,500 orphaned children.

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The school has undertaken ambitious initiatives in organic farming and water conservation, aiming to ensure the provision of wholesome, nutritious food to both students and members of the local community, said a news report by Dawn News.

“Our project is on water conservation because, in 2025, clean drinking water will finish in Pakistan,” Sumaiya Bibi, 19, told Arab News after receiving the award on behalf of the trust.

After losing her parents in the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan’s Kashmir region, she found a sense of direction by focusing on climate-related projects.

“We want to set up water filtration plants and sensor taps in our school to minimize water wastage,” she said. “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 Zayed Sustainability Prize was presented by the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who personally handed over the award to two students representing the school during the climate conference.

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar also presented the school with an accolade appreciating the achievement. The award underscores the school’s dedication to fostering a sustainable future and its role as a frontrunner in global efforts towards positive environmental impact.