A Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN) Grant brought together 44 U.S. exchange alumni, journalists, media professionals, civil society representatives, and media students in Karachi to explore how digital innovation, artificial intelligence, and emerging media models are reshaping journalism and creating new professional opportunities.
Held on August 29, 2026, the “Open Voices Conference: Strengthening Media, Dialogue, and Digital Innovation in Pakistan” was implemented under a PUAN Grant awarded to Najia Ashar, East-West Center Grant (EWCG) 2013 alumna and President of the Global Neighbourhood for Media Innovation (GNMI).
The conference formed part of the broader Open Voices initiative and provided participants with an opportunity to examine developments affecting journalism and digital media, including the growing use of artificial intelligence, the expansion of digital platforms, media entrepreneurship, and the importance of maintaining credibility and accountability in an evolving information landscape.
Faareha Fatima, Alumni Manager at the U.S. Consulate General Karachi, also addressed participants, highlighting the value of alumni networks and the opportunities they can create for alumni to use their professional experience and connections to make meaningful contributions. Engr. Sabeen Ghouri, Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications, Government of Pakistan, delivered the keynote address.
Turning Ideas into Digital Content
An important component of the conference was the presentation of teasers and explainer videos produced through the Open Voices initiative. The digital content demonstrated how accessible formats can be used to communicate complex issues to wider audiences in clear and engaging ways.
These outputs also moved the initiative beyond discussion by demonstrating the practical use of digital storytelling formats to communicate ideas and perspectives through contemporary media platforms.
Journalism in the Age of AI
The conference featured a panel discussion titled “Truth in the Age of Noise: Ethical and Credible Journalism in Pakistan’s Evolving Media Landscape,” bringing together experienced journalists and digital media professionals to examine how journalism is changing in the digital era.
The panel featured journalist Mazhar Abbas; senior journalist Afia Salam; BBC Urdu correspondent Wusatullah Khan; and Ali Arsalan, Co-Founder of Times of Karachi. Senior journalist Lubna Jerar Naqvi moderated the discussion.
Panelists explored emerging opportunities in media entrepreneurship, the growth and scalability of digital platforms, and the increasing integration of artificial intelligence and other digital tools into media workflows.
The conversation also examined the professional challenge of adopting new technologies while maintaining credibility and accountability. As AI and digital platforms continue to change how information is produced and distributed, participants considered how journalists and media professionals can adapt to emerging tools and explore new models of professional and entrepreneurial activity while maintaining journalistic standards.
Through the Open Voices initiative, Najia Ashar’s PUAN Grant connected alumni, journalists, media professionals, and emerging practitioners around practical questions shaping the future of media , from AI and digital storytelling to entrepreneurship, platform growth, and credible journalism.
By combining professional dialogue with digital content produced through the initiative, the grant demonstrated how U.S. exchange alumni can use their experience and professional networks to convene relevant expertise, encourage digital innovation, and explore new opportunities in a rapidly changing media landscape.
