Islamabad (Agencies): The British High Commission marked Commonwealth Day 2025 with a special ceremony to honor young climate storytellers, recognizing their creative efforts in raising awareness about climate change through art, film, and storytelling.
The event showcased the winners of the Art for Earth competition, which invited young Pakistanis aged 13 to 24 to express how climate change affects their lives and communities. Organized in collaboration with the British Council, the competition received over 550 submissions, reflecting the enthusiasm of Pakistani youth toward climate action.
During the prestigious award ceremony, winning entries were exhibited, and discussions were held on youth-led climate initiatives. British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Dr. Jane Marriott CMG OBE, praised the participants’ creativity, stating, “I have been truly inspired by the extraordinary creativity of these young individuals. They have highlighted the urgency of climate action in the most innovative ways. Pakistan’s youth are full of energy and ideas, and this competition has shown how powerful their voices can be in shaping the climate conversation.”
One of the winners, 20-year-old Rooha Arshad, who won in the Climate and Innovation category, emphasized the need for individual responsibility in combating climate change. “It’s easy to hope that new technology will save the planet, but it’s really up to us. We must recognize our responsibility and use the natural resources we already have to tackle the climate crisis,” she said.
The competition winners—Khadija Chaudhry, Rahma Muddassir, Gulshan Fatima, Haider Ali, Umaima Zia, and Rooha Arshad—were recognized in three categories: Climate and Innovation, Climate and Gender, and Climate in My Community.
Commonwealth Day, observed on March 10 across 56 member states, promotes shared values of unity, sustainability, and peace. This year’s theme, “Together We Thrive,” underscores the importance of global cooperation in addressing environmental and social challenges.
Climate change remains a top priority for the UK in Pakistan. The British government has already helped 1.5 million people build resilience against climate disasters and aims to support an additional 3 million over the next four years. The UK’s Innovative Climate Finance Programme is set to mobilize £420 million in climate investments, primarily from the private sector.
The event reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to climate action and highlighted the power of young voices in shaping a sustainable future.