The Botanical Society of the University of Baltistan, Skardu, organized a seminar on September 18, 2024, titled "SDGs and Zero Waste: An Integrated Approach Towards Climate Action." The Vice-Chancellor of UOBS, Prof. Dr. Naeem Tariq Narejo, honored the event with his presence as the Chief Guest. The Registrar, Heads of the Departments of Botany and Environmental Sciences, the Coordinator of the GYMS Club, faculty members, and students also attended.

Dr. Aman Karim and Dr. Sayed Afzal Shah, faculty members from the Department of Biological Sciences (DBS) at the National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), participated in the event.

The seminar began with a recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by a welcome note from Dr. Ishtiaq Hussain, Associate Professor of Botany at UOBS.

Dr. Aman Karim, Associate Professor at NUMS DBS and member NESC, delivered a keynote address titled "Towards a Zero Waste Society: Role of Academic Institutions." His presentation highlighted the significance of adopting a zero-waste model to minimize waste, emphasizing its practical benefits for universities striving to become sustainable campuses. He discussed NUMS' ongoing transition to a zero-waste university through the implementation of the 5Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot, and Raise Awareness). Dr. Aman also emphasized collective action, inviting academic institutions and stakeholders to join the recently launched initiative by academia, Zero Waste Alliance Pakistan (ZWAP), to tackle the country's waste crisis.

Another speaker, Dr. Salar Ali, elaborated on sustainable waste management methods, offering practical advice for students to contribute to environmental sustainability.

The seminar concluded with an interactive Q&A session where faculty and students discussed how to transform their campuses into zero-waste and extend these practices to the wider community in Baltistan.

In his address, the honorable Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Naeem Tariq Narejo, underscored the importance of adopting sustainable practices at UOBS and expressed his full support for collaborating with NUMS and ZWAP to make UOBS a zero-waste campus.

In his vote of thanks, Dr. Alamdar Hussain expressed his desire to involve faculty and students in community efforts related to sustainable development goals, including zero waste. The event concluded with the Vice-Chancellor presenting souvenirs to the NUMS faculty to appreciate their visit to UOBS and participating in the seminar.

This event marked an important step towards exploring the areas for collaboration between NUMS and UOBS in addressing environmental challenges and promoting sustainable development in Pakistan.

"Building Resilience" is a pivotal component of the Millennium Fellowship 2023, executed in collaboration with SLS Montessori School at the SLS Montessori School PWD Campus, Islamabad, during the initial phase from October 2023 to December 2023. This ambitious Zero Waste (ZW) Project is supported by the Millennium Campus Network (MCN), an organization dedicated to empowering global youth leaders to address challenges and foster positive change in their communities.

The initiative involves selected National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) candidates participating in the Millennium Fellowship, facilitated by MCN, contributing to sustainable development. "Building Resilience" highlights the impactful collaboration between academic institutions and grassroots initiatives, striving for a more sustainable and resilient future. MCN plays a vital role by providing resources, mentorship, and a supportive community to enhance project efficacy.

An extension of Project Zero Waste NUMS was initiated in 2021 to establish NUMS as a ZW campus. "Building Resilience" positions NUMS as the first organizational affiliate of Pakistan's Zero Waste International Alliance (ZWIA). The project expands beyond the campus to fulfill NUMS's social and environmental responsibilities, leading a comprehensive shift towards a ZW community.

The dynamic team from the Department of Public Health at NUMS, including project lead Noor-ul-Ain Shah, Saarma Saleem, Fizza Javed (also Campus Director for the fellowship), and volunteer Yashfa Khan Shinwari, navigated challenges under the mentorship of Dr. Adeela Bashir, Dr. Asma Qazi, and overall supervision by Ms. Sumiya Nauman. They are NUMS Green Youth Movement Club members and the implementation wing of the NUMS Environmental Stewardship Committee (NESC).

The primary goal of "Building Resilience" was to initially implement ZW Management at SLS Montessori School as a pilot, with plans to extend it to its 40 branches in the twin cities. The project aimed to motivate and educate the school community to adopt ZW practices as their civic responsibility and act as agents of change for the wider community. The visionary leadership of Mrs. Naghmana Iftikhar, the branch's principal, and her team provided crucial support during the pilot project.

Milestones achieved during the pilot project included impactful visits, surveys, interviews, focus group discussions, interactive workshops, and separate awareness sessions. The school community enthusiastically participated, leading to the administration's successful implementation of ZW Management in collaboration with NUMS.

The partnership with SLS Montessori School, forged through the Millennium Fellowship, demonstrates the power of collaborations and the transformative impact of youth-led initiatives. It strategically aims to profoundly impact environmental sustainability, forging a path towards a resilient and socially responsible zero-waste community. As the project progresses, stay tuned for updates as these young leaders continue to contribute towards a sustainable future.