KHUZDAR: One of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Pakistan’s Youth Advocates for Climate Action and Girls’ Empowerment, Zunaira Qayyum Baloch, at just 15, has already carried the weight of her community’s hopes on her young shoulders. But even her dedication could not shield her from an alarming attack.
While attending her aunt’s wedding in Khuzdar, Zunaira learned that intruders had broken into her home in Hub. They tore through her personal belongings, leaving behind destruction and heartbreak. Among the damaged items were her passport, UNICEF documents, awards, shields, and trophies, tangible reminders of years of advocacy and service to her people.
“These items are not just objects,” Zunaira said. “They represent my commitment to my community, my work, and the dreams of countless young Baloch girls. Seeing them destroyed is painful, but it will never stop me.”
Her voice carries the weight of resilience. Appointed by UNICEF Pakistan as a Youth Advocate, Zunaira is one of only a handful of young leaders globally recognized for her efforts to combat climate change and promote youth engagement in Balochistan. She has represented Pakistani youth at international platforms, including COP29, speaking passionately about the right to education and climate justice.
Zunaira’s advocacy is deeply personal. Her father, Abdul Qayyum Zehri, was forcibly disappeared in 2020 and later killed under circumstances her family alleges were staged. Despite this trauma, she has channeled her grief into activism, amplifying the voices of Baloch youth and demanding change in a province long marked by hardship and neglect.
“This attack is an attempt to silence me,” Zunaira said, “but it only strengthens my resolve. Climate action, youth empowerment, and the fight for justice are not just my work; they are my life.”
Local authorities have yet to comment on the incident. For Zunaira, however, the destruction is not an end but a call to continue, louder and stronger, in her pursuit of a better future for her community.
