Seven young Pakistani students are spearheading five impactful green startups, supported by the Green Urban Development project, which aims to promote sustainable urban solutions and eco-entrepreneurship.
These startups — ranging from water conservation to waste management to kinetic energy pavers — were showcased at the event, highlighting the students’ innovative solutions to address critical urban environmental challenges.
The Green Urban Development (GUD) project, led by the Institute of Urbanism (IoU) and the School of Leadership Foundation (SoLF), concluded with an event on September 28, 2024, in Islamabad. Supported by the U.S. Embassy, the two-year project promoted sustainable urban solutions through water conservation, waste management, and green infrastructure, while fostering eco-entrepreneurship among youth.
The GUD project encouraged national discussions on sustainability, implemented action plans for water management, and even facilitated a U.S.-Pakistan exchange program where 16 participants attended training at DePaul University in Chicago.
Green Urban Development School (GUDS) Model
The GUDS model was piloted in two universities — Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU) and COMSATS University Islamabad, helping 35 students enhance their skills and develop green entrepreneurship ideas through capacity-building workshops, exposure visits, action research, and green entrepreneurship incubation.
The model, implemented under the Green Youth Movement (GYM) Clubs, consisted of three phases:
- Study Phase: Students received 17 classroom-based capacity-building sessions with experts and undertook exposure visits to green projects.
- Action Research Phase: Five innovative projects were awarded PKR 500,000 each to implement sustainable community research.
- Green Startup Phase: After the research phase, the most effective projects received incubation grants and mentoring to transform into viable businesses.
Key Student-led projects from GUDS and their impact
1. TerraTech (Marfaa Naseem): A green home initiative focused on rainwater harvesting and rooftop hydroponics.
Impact: Terra Tech helped save the equivalent of 10-12 water tankers in 6 months, set up a rainwater system in E-18, grew organic vegetables saving PKR 15,000, and secured three installation orders in Islamabad.
2. Aqua Shield Technologies (Talha Ajmal): A water management project aimed at installing water-saving systems in mosques.
Impact: Installed systems in Omar Mosque (G-10), serving 300-400 worshippers daily, reduced water usage by one-third, and saved PKR 50,000 in electricity costs. The project has received orders from six additional mosques in Islamabad.
3. Sar Sabz Qadam (Aatirah Amir, Mudassir Karim & Zoupash Khan): Produces kinetic pavers made from recycled materials that generate electricity from foot traffic.
Impact: Installed two pavers at COMSATS, charged a 12-volt battery in 3 days. The project was selected for a presentation to the Prime Minister on International Youth Day 2024 and invited to showcase their work to Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland.
4. Nawalah App (Waiza Kiani): A mobile app connecting surplus food from restaurants to underserved communities.
Impact: Nawalah has partnered with six businesses, diverted 5,000 kg of food from landfills, provided 25 meals to underserved families, and promoted sustainability and food equity.
5. Eco-Organic Fertilizers (Aqsa Arshad): This project uses organic waste to produce compost and fertilizers, promoting a circular economy.
Impact: Eco-Organics Ferilizers diverted 200 kg of organic waste daily from the QAU campus, produced 500 kg of compost and partnered with food businesses and nurseries for organic waste sourcing.
Support for Youth-led Eco-Entrepreneurship
Senator Sherry Rehman, an advocate for climate action, praised the GUD program, stating, “Circularity is the solution for a sustainable urban future and all the projects under the GUD program encapsulate that spirit. I would particularly like to appreciate the GUD team and the U.S. Embassy for empowering youth to take leadership in introducing solutions that can help accelerate the transition towards making Islamabad a green and climate-compatible city.”
Speaking at the event, Lisa Swenarski, U.S. Mission Pakistan’s Minister Counselor for Public Diplomacy, emphasized, “This program is just one of many that advance the U.S.-Pakistan Green Alliance Framework where we invest millions of dollars to jointly meet the climate, energy, water, and economic needs of the present and future.”
Swenarski said she was impressed by the innovative solutions created by the Green Urban Development School students, showcasing the potential for spearheading initiatives in their communities to create lasting impact.
Celebrating achievements and exploring future opportunities
The event also featured a panel discussion on promoting collaboration for green urban solutions and showcased five student-led startups. These initiatives have gained media attention and have been connected to the Prime Minister’s Youth Program for further outreach and sustainability.
As the GUD project concludes, its success has laid the foundation for future partnerships to build sustainable, resilient urban environments through youth-led innovation.
The event also featured a panel discussion titled “Promoting Innovative Green Solutions through Collaboration.” The session brought together experts from a diverse array of fields to discuss strategies for promoting partnerships and engaging youth in the fields of sustainable urban water management, waste management and green infrastructure. The experts included Sardar Khan Zimri, DG Water Management, Capital Development Authority (CDA); Muhammad Bilal Yaseen, Deputy Manager Operations, Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) and Dr. Ejaz Ahmad, Senior Program Fellow, Institute of Urbanism (IoU).
“Cities are contributing to the climate crisis and at the same time becoming more vulnerable to its impacts. Securing a sustainable and livable future demands immediate and decisive action,” Dr. Ejaz Ahmad, Senior Program Fellow, IoU said. He emphasized that building a sustainable future relies on fostering climate leadership and promoting green skills among young people, as they will face the most significant challenges posed by climate change.
“The GUD program has been instrumental in this endeavor, equipping students with the tools and technical knowledge to devise innovative and practical solutions to environmental issues while enhancing their economic resilience and future career prospects,” Dr Ahmad said.
Mariyam Irfan, Managing Director of SoLF, highlighted that as the community gathered to celebrate the remarkable achievements of the Green Urban Development project, it was important to recognize that empowering youth is not merely an investment in their future, but in the sustainable future of cities. She emphasized that together, they are cultivating a generation of eco-entrepreneurs who will develop innovative solutions to the environmental challenges they face, ensuring that urban landscapes thrive for years to come.
“Together, we are cultivating a generation of eco-entrepreneurs who will drive innovative solutions to the environmental challenges we face, ensuring that our urban landscapes thrive for years to come.”
Explore more insights from the Green Urban Development (GUD) series by browsing through our other articles:
