PUAN Voices: Fortnightly Newsletter June 14-27, 2025

The latest edition of PUAN’s fortnightly newsletter is here. Stay informed with recent highlights, community updates, and exciting opportunities for professional and academic growth from the Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network.

Highlights from PUAN Jamshoro Chapter Annual Reunion 2025

From heartfelt stories to new partnerships, the Jamshoro Chapter Annual Reunion 2025 was nothing short of a collection of memorable moments. Over 150 alumni recently came together to celebrate the power of connection, collaboration, and community impact. U.S. Consul General Scott Urbom from U.S. Consulate General Karachi attended the event, recognizing the strength of alumni networks and the lasting influence of U.S. exchange programs. Many of these inspiring moments were captured in this video highlight, showcasing the spirit and impact of PUAN in action.

PUAN Grants Spotlight: Bridging Justice Through Innovation

Fulbright alumna Dr. Nudrat E. Piracha is leading a game-changing PUAN Grants project: an Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform that brings accessible, tech-powered justice to underserved communities. Through virtual hearings, AI-supported mediation, and user-friendly legal tools, this platform, developed by ICADRP with U.S. collaboration will offer affordable alternatives to formal courts, support small businesses, and encourage foreign investment. With a distinguished global career in arbitration and legal reform, Dr. Piracha is paving the way for a more inclusive and investor-friendly legal system in Pakistan.


PUAN Grants Spotlight: Connecting Entrepreneurs Through Storytelling

Najia Ashar is leading a powerful initiative under the PUAN Grants Program titled: “Pak-U.S. Entrepreneurship Collaboration Through Media and Engagement.” She is an alumna of the East-West Center Grant (2013) and a pioneer in media development. With over 20 years of experience in journalism and media innovation, Najia has dedicated her career to empowering voices, especially women, through storytelling, advocacy, and digital media. She is the founder of GNMI in Pakistan and PULSE in the U.S., two platforms transforming media landscapes and promoting cross-border collaboration.

Through her PUAN-funded project, Najia will spotlight six successful, U.S.-supported ventures with a strong focus on women-led enterprises using strategic storytelling and digital outreach. By showcasing real-world entrepreneurial success stories and fostering long-term business connections, this project aims to strengthen economic ties between Pakistan and the United States.

PUAN Grants Spotlight: Playing for Unity and Peace

Rooh Ullah Jan Khalil is championing peace through his project titled “Playing for Unity and Peace” under PUAN Grants Program. He is our alumnus of the UGRAD Spring 2013 and member of the PUAN KP Chapter,

Rooted in the belief that sports can transcend divides, Rooh’s initiative aims to counter sectarian violence and promote social harmony among youth in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Through a three-day sporting event including football, cricket, badminton, and board games, paired with peacebuilding workshops on leadership, conflict resolution, and teamwork, the project will bring together over 200 young participants from Kohat, Kurram, Bannu, and Peshawar, regions historically affected by sectarian tensions.

Call for Applications: Fulbright Foreign Language Teacher Assistant (FLTA) Program 2026

Opportunity for Aspiring English Language Teachers!

The Fulbright Foreign Language Teacher Assistant (FLTA) Program 2026 invites young English language teachers to apply! This program offers the opportunity to teach Urdu or Pashto at a university in the United States while simultaneously enhancing your teaching skills and professional experience.

The application deadline is Thursday, July 31, 2025! For more information and to submit your application, visit www.usefp.org. Have questions? Email us at flta@usefp.org.

Call for Applications-Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship

Call for Applications! Are you a passionate mid-career professional looking to advance your career and make a global impact? The U.S. Mission to Pakistan and USEFP invite applications for the 2026 Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program. This exchange program is fully funded by the U.S. Department of State, offering you the opportunity to enhance your leadership skills, expand your professional network, and gain insights from experts. For information about eligibility, requirements, relevant fields, the application process, and to apply, read more here. The last day to apply is Tuesday, July 15, 2025. For queries, email humphrey@usefp.org.

Join the Team Driving Alumni Impact-Now Hiring: Assistant Outreach/Alumni Officer at PUAN

We’re Hiring! The United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) is looking for a dynamic Assistant Outreach/Alumni Officer (Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network) to join our Islamabad team. If you have a passion for public engagement, alumni relations, event management and meet the academic & experience requirements, this is your opportunity to work closely with the Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN) and the U.S. Mission in Pakistan. Apply by: July 16, 2025; Location: Islamabad. Click here to view full job description and apply now https://www.rozee.pk/job/detail/1632864


PUAN Disclaimer: Stay Safe, Vigilant, and Protect Your Information

The Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN), in collaboration with the U.S. Mission to Pakistan and USEFP, encourages safe and inclusive alumni engagement. However, the U.S. Mission to Pakistan, USEFP or PUAN is not responsible for any activities, views, participant conduct, communication, collection, or use of funds, or sharing of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) without consent that may occur during unofficial or self-organized events and meet-ups, whether online, in person, or through other platforms, such as WhatsApp or social media groups that are not owned, managed, organized, or endorsed by PUAN, USEFP, or the U.S. Mission to Pakistan.

In addition, any use of the U.S. Department of State and its partner program agencies, PUAN, USEFP, or other U.S. Government logos, branding, or identity without prior written permission is strictly prohibited and may lead to violations of the PUAN Code of Conduct.  This includes any misconduct that negatively impacts the interests of the U.S. Mission to Pakistan, USEFP or PUAN and includes using one’s position in PUAN for personal gain or to solicit funding. We urge alumni to exercise caution and verify the legitimacy of any platform or event claiming affiliation with PUAN, USEFP and the U.S. Mission to Pakistan. Please follow our Community Guidelines, and if you have any concerns, please reach out to your respective coordinator via Contact Us.

Send Us Your Recent Publications

At PUAN, we are continually inspired by the incredible work that U.S. exchange alumni have been doing. The dedication and contributions of our alumni are making a significant impact, and we are proud to have you all as part of the Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN). We would love to hear about your recent accomplishments. If you have published an op-ed, journal article, news piece, or any other work in the past three months, please let us know by filling out this quick questionnaire. Additionally, we encourage you to keep us informed of your future publications by emailing us at info@puan.pk. Your continued support and engagement are vital to the success of PUAN, and we are grateful for your contributions. Please note that the compilation of alumni publications is a recurring activity. Therefore, we kindly request that you avoid submitting the same information more than once.

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