Time flies! Another edition of PUAN’s fortnightly newsletter is here! Catch up on the latest from the Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN) in this fortnight’s newsletter, featuring recent highlights, updates from PUAN community, and exciting opportunities for professional and academic advancement.
13 Alumni Awarded Grants to Drive Impact Across Pakistan
The Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN), in partnership with the U.S. Mission to Pakistan, is thrilled to announce the newest cohort of PUAN Grants Program awardees! This year, 13 exceptional alumni from diverse professional backgrounds have been selected through a competitive process to receive grants across three categories: Special Theme, Open Theme, and PUAN Connects. These grants empower alumni of U.S. government-funded exchange programs to transform innovative ideas into meaningful, community-driven projects. Read more here.
Anum Sher Wins Excellence in Criminal Investigation Award
PUAN’s Global UGRAD 2018 alumna Anum Sher has been honored with the Excellence in Criminal Investigation Award at the World Police Summit 2025, Dubai. Anum’s dedication, courage, and commitment to justice continue to inspire. Read more.
Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Through Digital Innovation
PUAN alumnus, Sahibzada Aamir Khalil from KP chapter, is implementing the Lead & Connect project to boost e-commerce & communication skills of 50 Women Chamber of Commerce members. During recent visit to NIC Peshawar, his grant beneficiaries explored digital innovation, startup culture, and practical tools to grow their businesses. This could be a powerful step toward women-led digital transformation! Read more here.
From Sindh to Stanford: Veengas Championing Independent Journalism
Veengas, PUAN alumna from the U.S.-Pakistan Professional Partnership Program for Journalists (2011), has been selected as finalist for the John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships 2026. Based in Karachi, Sindh, Veengas is a seasoned journalist and founder of The Rise News, the first nonprofit news outlet in Sindh, publishing in Sindhi and English. Her work centers on independent, community-focused journalism and amplifying marginalized voices. She’s also a 2017 Alfred Friendly Press Partners Fellow and author of “Pakistan’s Troubled Minorities.” Her reporting has appeared in The Wire, NPR, and other international platforms. Read more here.
PUAN Alumna Aftab Tabassum: From Research to Advocacy
Global UGRAD Fall 2021 alumna Aftab Tabassum is turning research into impact. Now a master’s scholar and advocate for sustainable agriculture, she recently won a $9,000 RASTA grant for her project on Chitral’s fresh fruit supply chain. As Soil & Water Coordinator at NYCCC, she leads community led environmental conservation efforts. Aftab also participated in PUAN’s 2023 ‘The Climate Change Emergency: Pakistan in the 21st Century and the Road to COP-28’. Read more here.
Rashda Abbas Represents Pakistan at the United Nations
Rashda Abass proudly represented Pakistan at the 58th International Law Seminar at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva. She is our alumna of PUAN’s 2017 Rule of Law & Governance Program and member of PUAN Central Punjab Chapter. As Head of ADR at Rasikh Consilium and a law faculty member at the University of the Punjab, Rashda shared Pakistan’s perspective on international arbitration, climate justice, and transboundary water law with global legal experts. Read more here.
PUAN Connects Spotlight: Bridging Young Entrepreneurs with Industry Leaders
Muhammad Hussain Amin, alumnus of the Access Program (2012–2014) and SUSI (2018), has received funding under PUAN Connects. Through his project “Bridging Young Entrepreneurs with Industry Leaders”, Hussain Amin will be linking youth-led startups with the Mansehra Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) for mentorship, business development, and market access, empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs in KP. Currently Senior Programme Manager at E HANDS, Amin brings over 5 years of experience in youth engagement, peacebuilding, and development initiatives across Pakistan. Read more here.
PUAN Connects Spotlight: Cultural & Heritage Evening Networking Festival, Balochistan
Jamal Abdul Nasir, Global (UGRAD-2015 alumnus Quetta Chapter) is one of our PUAN Connects 2025 grantees! Jamal’s upcoming project, “Cultural & Heritage Evening Networking Festival, Balochistan,” will spotlight local traditions through storytelling, music, and dance (Chap and Attan), creating a powerful space for alumni to reconnect, share experiences, and celebrate their heritage. As a strong advocate for refugee rights, gender equality, and child protection, Jamal is committed to building inclusive, resilient communities. Read more here.
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.
