Pakistani lawyer and social activist Altamush Saeed has been honored with the inaugural Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Spark Award at the Humane Society of the United States Expo 2024. The award ceremony was held at the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas, from May 15-18. The event, hosted by one of the world’s largest animal rights organizations, celebrated Saeed’s exceptional contributions to human and animal rights.
Altamush Saeed holds four advanced postgraduate law degrees, specializing in Animal Law, Environmental Law, Human Rights Law, and International Law from prestigious institutions such as Lewis and Clark Law School, University of Michigan Law School, and Lahore University of Management Sciences, Shaikh Ahmad Hassan School of Law.
As the Founding Managing Partner of Environmental and Animal Rights Consultants (EARC), Pakistan’s first dedicated animal and environmental law practice, Saeed has made significant strides as an award-winning Interspecies Justice lawyer, activist, philanthropist, and professor. He plays a crucial role on the boards of several international organizations, including Pro-Veg, NorthWest Animal Rights Network, World Animal Justice, Green Islam, and Asia for Animals, contributing his expertise as an international animal rights expert.
In addition to his legal work, Saeed co-founded the Charity Doings Foundation, which has been active since 2016, supporting humans, animals, and the environment in Pakistan. The foundation’s initiatives include a school for children with special needs, an insulin awareness campaign, a large-scale free medical laboratory, tree plantation projects, mosque constructions, solar light provisions, and community kitchens.
One of their unique initiatives is the installation of carbon-neutral solar-powered water systems for humans and animals. Over 1600 such systems have been installed across Pakistan, providing essential water resources. These projects are now being expanded to create green vegetable gardens, aiming to support 40 families annually and mitigate the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation.
During the devastating 2022 floods in Pakistan, which affected a third of the country and displaced 33 million people, the Charity Doings Foundation established medical camps, built solar-powered houses, set up community kitchens, and created a disaster zone plant-based school. They also provided emergency veterinary aid, delivered 120,000 kilograms of food, and rescued 8,000 farm animals.
Altamush Saeed’s recognition at the US Expo 2024 underscores his remarkable dedication to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the realms of human and animal rights.
