The Man Who Built KORT, A Heaven for Orphans in Kashmir
KORT – Twenty years ago, a man stood on a rugged mountain in Mirpur, staring at a barren stretch of land. The officials beside him said, “This is your land.” He could have walked away. Instead, he smiled — perhaps imagining a future no one else could see.
That man was Choudhary Mohammed Akhtar, the founder and chairman of the Kashmir Orphan Relief Trust (KORT) — now one of South Asia’s most respected humanitarian institutions.
Today, where once there were only stones and dust, stands a sprawling complex — home to hundreds of orphaned children who now live, learn, and grow with dignity and love.
But for Akhtar, this is more than an institution. “KORT was a dream I saw while awake,” he says softly. “A dream that began in a rented building and today stands as a symbol of hope.”
Born of Pain, Built on Faith
In 2005, when a devastating earthquake struck Azad Kashmir, Akhtar — a British national of Kashmiri origin — came to Pakistan to deliver aid. What he saw changed his life forever.
“I saw children who had lost everything — their parents, their homes, their childhoods. Every time I looked at them, I saw my own daughter.”
That moment became his turning point. What began as a small rented shelter for 35 children grew into a lifelong mission.
He faced the hardest choice of his life: return to comfort in the UK or dedicate everything to the children of Kashmir. He chose the latter.
“I made a vow to God that day,” Akhtar recalls. “I said, ‘O Allah, give me strength. I dedicate the rest of my life to these children.’”
Breaking Mountains, Building Dreams
When the Azad Kashmir government finally allotted land for his dream project, Akhtar discovered it sat atop a mountain. Literally.
Instead of giving up, he began breaking it down — first metaphorically, then physically. “It took three and a half years just to level the mountain,” he says. “I even learned to drive bulldozers myself.”
Brick by brick, under his supervision, the mountain transformed into “Baghban” — KORT’s home for orphaned children, completed in 2016.
“People called me crazy,” he laughs. “But love makes you fearless.”
A Home, Not an Orphanage
At KORT, the word “orphanage” is forbidden.
“It’s a harsh word,” Akhtar says. “This is not an orphanage — it’s a home.”
Every child at KORT receives what he could not give his own daughter — the best education, care, and opportunities. They wear new clothes, eat fresh meals, and live with dignity.
“In twenty years, not a single meal has been reheated or reused,” he notes with pride. “That’s not our doing — that’s Allah’s blessing.”
A Global Mission of Compassion
From two “Aashianas” in Azad Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, KORT’s work now spans continents — providing relief in Gaza, Syria, Turkey, and Afghanistan, and spearheading major flood rehabilitation projects across Pakistan.
When floods devastated Pakistan in 2022, KORT built and handed over hundreds of new homes — the last 250 in Balochistan were completed this year.
KORT’s compassion also extends to widows and people with disabilities. The organization builds accessible public facilities across Islamabad and Mirpur — from wheelchair-friendly washrooms in parks to homes for widows raising young children.
“My late wife inspired this,” he says. “She spent her life helping others, despite being unable to walk herself.”
Love, Loss, and Legacy
Akhtar’s voice softens when he speaks of his late wife — the woman he calls his “backbone and strength.” She passed away after a long battle with cancer in 2024.
“Before, I was doing this for Allah,” he says, his eyes glistening. “Now, I do it for her — and through her, for Allah.”
The KORT Hospital project in Palandri, Azad Kashmir — the largest healthcare initiative in the region — will be dedicated to her memory. The government has already allotted 100 kanals for the project.
Estimated at Rs. 10–12 billion, the hospital will offer completely free treatment to those who cannot afford medical care. Alongside it, KORT plans to establish Primary Care Units in all ten districts of Azad Kashmir.
“Life and death are in God’s hands,” Akhtar says. “But we can at least give people a chance to live.”
Faith, Trust, and the Human Spirit
Despite challenges, Akhtar has never paid a bribe — something he proudly declares.
“Our system works — we are the ones who break it,” he says. “If you stay honest, Allah opens every door.”
He credits KORT’s success to trust — especially the unwavering support of overseas Pakistanis, particularly from the UK.
“After the earthquake, people had lost faith in charities,” he explains. “Restoring that trust was our greatest achievement.”
True to his principles, Akhtar has never allowed any family member to hold a position in KORT. “It doesn’t belong to me,” he insists. “It belongs to the people.”
The Children Who Now Carry the Dream
Eighteen years ago, when people asked who would run KORT after him, Akhtar had one answer: “These very children will.”
Today, that prophecy has come true. Former KORT children are now teachers, nurses, IT professionals, and administrators — managing Baghban, KORT’s sister project.
“Who better to lead it,” he says proudly, “than those who grew up in it?”
“We Only Watered the Plants…”
Sitting in the serene valley of Mirpur, surrounded by the laughter of children, Akhtar reflects on the words of Mian Muhammad Bakhsh:
“To water a plant is the gardener’s task,
But to make it bloom is the Lord’s work.”
He smiles. “We only watered the plants,” he says humbly. “The rest was done by Allah.”
As he walks through KORT’s lush campus — where orphaned children call him “Papa” — one can sense that this isn’t just a charity. It’s a miracle built on love, faith, and relentless hope.And perhaps that is why, when Akhtar says “This institution will live forever,” one cannot help but believe him.
