The Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN) strengthened alumni capacity through a series of impactful PUAN Grants Workshops held on February 17–18, 2026, across Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore, bringing together motivated alumni eager to explore funding opportunities and enhance project development skills for community-driven initiatives.
The Karachi workshop, hosted at the Lincoln Corner, Liaquat Memorial Library, featured the participation of Stephanie Arzate (Public Diplomacy Officer, U.S. Consulate General Karachi) and Faareha Fatima (Alumni Coordinator, U.S. Consulate General Karachi). The training was facilitated by Samana Qaseem (Alumni Outreach Officer, USEFP–PUAN Office, Karachi), who guided participants through grant fundamentals, proposal development, and strategies for aligning project ideas with mission priorities. A key highlight was Stephanie Arzate’s insightful overview of Mission themes, which helped alumni better position their concepts for relevance and impact.
The momentum continued in Islamabad on February 18, where approximately 70 alumni gathered at USEFP for an engaging session. The workshop was attended by Marta Aparicio (Public Diplomacy Officer, U.S. Embassy Islamabad) and Peter (Executive Director, USEFP), reflecting the strong institutional support behind alumni-led initiatives. During the session, Muhammad Sarfraz Khan (Senior Finance/Grants Officer, PUAN, Islamabad) delivered a comprehensive orientation on the PUAN Grants Program 2026, outlining key priorities, funding tracks, and the application process. The session concluded with an interactive Q&A that addressed alumni queries and encouraged thoughtful proposal planning.
A parallel session in Lahore, held at Fulbright House, Forman Christian College, further expanded outreach to alumni in Punjab. Public Affairs Officer Sandeep Paul joined the workshop to reaffirm U.S. Mission support for alumni-led initiatives advancing economic opportunity, innovation, and shared U.S.–Pakistan priorities. The session was facilitated by Ashab Lodhi, Alumni Outreach Officer Lahore, who provided participants with detailed guidance on the PUAN Grants Program 2026. Discussions highlighted how U.S. exchange alumni continue applying American ideas, leadership approaches, and professional expertise to generate measurable community impact, demonstrating that when alumni lead, communities flourish, partnerships deepen, and the U.S.–Pakistan relationship advances.
Across all three both cities, alumni demonstrated high energy and enthusiasm, actively participating, sharing innovative ideas, and expressing strong interest in developing high-impact projects. The workshops underscored PUAN’s continued commitment to empowering its alumni community through knowledge, collaboration, and leadership opportunities.
Application Reminder: Alumni are encouraged to submit their proposals by March 13, 2026, at 02:00 PM (PST).
For complete details and to apply, visit puan.pk/puan-grants. Those who couldn’t join the physical session, PUAN held a informative Facebook live as well to orient potential applicants about the application process. Please view the recording here:
PUAN looks forward to supporting bold, innovative solutions that create meaningful change across Pakistan.
