We’re proud to share that Veengas, our accomplished alumna from the U.S.-Pakistan Professional Partnership Program for Journalists (2011), has been selected as one of the 16 finalists for the prestigious JSK Journalism Fellowship 2016 at Stanford University.

Based in Karachi, Sindh, Veengas is known for her bold, independent journalism and commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices with over 15 years of experience. She is the founder and editor of The Rise News, an independent, nonprofit digital news platform publishing in both Sindhi and English. Launched in 2019, The Rise News is the first nonprofit news organization in Sindh, promoting local, community-centered journalism in a region where nonprofit media is still a novel concept.

Her fearless reporting shines a light on marginalized voices, and her work has been featured in The Wire (India), NPR, and other international platforms. In 2017, she was also selected as an Alfred Friendly Press Partners Fellow in the United States. She is also the author of “Pakistan’s Troubled Minorities,” a compelling book based on her deep reporting on underrepresented communities.

Join us in celebrating Veengas and her unwavering dedication to independent journalism!