The newest edition of the PUAN Fortnightly Newsletter is out now! Dive into inspiring alumni success stories, catch up on highlights of closing ceremonies of our PUAN National Internship Program, and discover exciting opportunities for academic and professional growth. Whether you’re looking to reconnect, expand your network, or advance your career, this issue is your right place to stay connected with the vibrant Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network.

Meet Your Director Public Engagement and Public Diplomacy Officer at U.S. Embassy, Islamabad

Heidi Smith has joined the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad as Director of Public Engagement, and Marta Aparicio has come on board as Public Diplomacy Officer. Some of you may have already met them, and you’ll have more opportunities to connect at future events. Let’s give them a warm welcome, they are eager to hear your ideas and work together to further strengthen people-to-people ties between the United States and Pakistan.

Celebrating Success: PUAN National Internship Program Concludes in Islamabad

The PUAN National Internship Program successfully wrapped up its three-month journey with a vibrant closing ceremony for Islamabad region on September 11, 2025, at the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan headquarters. The evening brought together mentors, interns, and distinguished guests from the U.S. Embassy and USEFP to celebrate the interns’ achievements.

Highlights included inspiring remarks from Dr. Peter K. Moran (Executive Director, USEFP), mentor insights from Ms. Komal Shakeel (IVLP 2022), and reflections from interns Ms. Aimen Malik (English Works 2022-23) and Mr. Haris Saleh Hayat (UGRAD 2024). The ceremony concluded with remarks from Ms. Heidi Smith (Director of Public Engagement, U.S. Embassy Pakistan) and a proud certificate distribution. Relive the moments in our full photo album here.

Internship Program Closing Ceremony in Peshawar Showcases Youth Innovation and U.S.-Pakistan Collaboration

Consul General Tom Eckert was proud to host the celebration of the completion of the 14th cohort of the Summer Internship Program, a cornerstone initiative of the Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN) and the U.S. Consulate General. This year, 10 accomplished mentors and 10 passionate interns from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa came together for a truly transformative experience. Over the past three months, interns collaborated with their mentors across a range of sectors, including government offices, NGOs, educational institutions, and private businesses. While sharing their experiences, interns also highlighted their startups having U.S. based clients in businesses like textile and graphic design. Providing professional development opportunities is a key way to create the conditions for great commercial ties between our countries for our mutual prosperity.

PUAN Punjab Interns Celebrate Completion of 12-Week Mentorship Program

Nine interns and nine mentors from Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network’s Punjab chapters celebrated the completion of a 12-week internship program at a ceremony with Public Affairs Officer Sandeep Paul and Public Diplomacy Officer Raquel King-Nicudemus. Through hands-on professional experience and personalized mentorship, the interns gained the skills, confidence, and networks, to take the next step in their professional journeys. By investing in alumni engagement, the U.S. continues to support and empower Pakistan ’s next generation of leaders.

Bridging Bioethics and Physiotherapy: Ayesha Liaqat’s PUAN Internship Experience

PUAN alumna Ayesha Liaqat (English Works 2023, Global UGRAD 2024) has completed her internship at Shalamar Medical and Dental College, Lahore under PUAN National Internship Program. During her internship tenure, she worked on research connecting bioethics and physiotherapy, attended journal clubs, and even moderated sessions during a Diploma in Healthcare Ethics program. Guided by her mentor Amna Farooq (Global UGRAD 2018), Ayesha gained practical experience in research writing, SPSS, and clinical observership while also finding a supportive academic community that felt like a second home. Her journey reflects how PUAN internships go beyond skills, they build confidence, networks, and lifelong mentorships. Read more here.

From Psychology to Startups: Qudsia’s Internship Journey at NIC Peshawar

As part of the PUAN National Internship Program 2025, Qudsia Bano (Academy for Women Entrepreneurs 2024, KP Chapter) completed a three-month internship with the Marketing, Communication, and Partnerships team at NIC Peshawar. Currently in her final year of BS in Psychology at SBBWU Peshawar, Qudsia applied her academic knowledge to real-world projects in social media content design, campaign development, and event coverage, while also interacting with startups.

A highlight of her journey was working on an upcoming campaign, where she contributed to post design, content writing, and session organization. She credits her mentor, Farhad Shafqat Qayyum (IVLP 2024), for guidance and support throughout the internship. For Qudsia, this experience strengthened her creativity, confidence, and communication skills, making it a valuable milestone in both her academic and professional journey. Read more here.

Emerging Technologies in the Classroom: PUAN Project Empowers Future Teachers

Dr. Muhammad Riaz is currently executing his PUAN Grants project titled “AI Training for Preservice Graduate Teachers in Islamabad Universities” under the special theme of ‘Emerging Technologies’. As part of this initiative, he organized a three-day training at the Federal College of Education H-9 to equip future educators with AI-driven teaching skills, promote digital literacy, and prepare Pakistan’s classrooms for the future. Ms. Marta Aparicio, Public Diplomacy Officer, U.S. Embassy, Islamabad also participated in the certificate distribution ceremony and encouraged participants to continue applying innovative technologies in their teaching practices.

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.