ISLAMABAD – The Press Network of Pakistan (PNP) has officially announced the winners of the PNP Letter of Excellence Awards 2025, a prestigious recognition initiative introduced to honor exceptional writing, responsible expression, and meaningful public engagement through Letters to the Editor published in leading national newspapers.
The announcement marks the successful conclusion of a competitive and transparent evaluation process, conducted exclusively among participants of the PNP Internship Program. The awards celebrate young writers whose letters demonstrated clarity of thought, relevance to national discourse, ethical expression, and measurable impact in mainstream print media.
The exclusivity of the PNP Letter of Excellence Awards 2025 to PNP interns across all ten completed batches reflects the organization’s focus on investing in its own talent pool. By providing mentorship, exposure, and now formal recognition, PNP aims to create a sustainable ecosystem where young writers feel valued and empowered.
Celebrating Excellence in Letter Writing
The PNP Letter of Excellence Awards were introduced as a first-of-its-kind recognition platform exclusively for individuals who successfully completed their tenure under the PNP Internship Program. During their internship tenure with the Press Network of Pakistan, all interns were encouraged to actively engage with national discourse by writing and publishing Letters to the Editor in mainstream Urdu and English newspapers.
These letters addressed a wide range of pressing national issues, including governance, education, economy, social justice, civic responsibility, and youth perspectives. The initiative not only enhanced interns’ writing and analytical skills but also provided them with a credible platform to contribute meaningfully to public debate.
According to the Chief Executive Sabahuddin Qazi, the initiative reflects the Press Network of Pakistan’s long-standing commitment to nurturing young voices, promoting ethical journalism, and strengthening the culture of responsible opinion writing in Pakistan.
Transparent Evaluation and Selection Process
The selection process for the PNP Letter of Excellence Awards 2025 was conducted through a structured and transparent evaluation framework. An independent jury, headed by renowned scholar Dr. Muhammad Arif, evaluated the submissions based on predefined criteria, including originality, analytical depth, relevance, language clarity, and publication credibility.
After a rigorous review process, the jury finalized a list of ten outstanding winners of the PNP Letter of Excellence Awards 2025, representing diverse academic institutions and geographic regions across Pakistan.
Official Name List of Winners – PNP Letter of Excellence Awards 2025
The following contestants (shown in alphabetical order) have been declared winners of the PNP Letter of Excellence Awards 2025.
| Sr# | Award Winner Name | University / Campus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arpna Rassani | COMSATS University, Islamabad |
| 2 | Haniya Khan | Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi |
| 3 | Hayan Ahmed Khan | Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences & Technology, Islamabad |
| 4 | Kinza Minahil | International Islamic University, Islamabad |
| 5 | Muhammad Wajdan | University of Agriculture, Faisalabad |
| 6 | Nabeel Haider | National University of Modern Languages (Islamabad Campus) |
| 7 | Sahiba Jalal | University of Education, Lahore |
| 8 | Sajjad Ali | National Defence University, Islamabad |
| 9 | Wasif Khaliq Dad | National University of Modern Languages (Rawalpindi Campus) |
| 10 | Yumna Hassan Latki | Bahria University, Karachi Campus |
PNP congratulates all awardees on their remarkable achievement to win the PNP Letter of Excellence Awards 2025 and applauds their contribution to thoughtful, responsible, and impactful public discourse.
Winners’ Voices: Reflections on the Achievement
Arpna Rassani, sharing her views on receiving the PNP Excellence Award 2025, said that the recognition reaffirmed her belief in the power of writing to create positive change.
“I am truly honored to win the PNP Letter of Excellence Award 2025. This recognition has helped me realize how writing can raise awareness, spark meaningful conversations, and contribute to positive change. Being acknowledged for my published letters in Dawn, The Pakistan Observer, The News International, and The Daily Times has strengthened my confidence and inspired me to continue writing with purpose.”
“This award will motivate me to keep improving, keep sharing my voice, and continue contributing to society.”
Haniya Khan, expressing her gratitude on receiving the PNP Letter of Excellence Awards, said that being recognized by the Press Network of Pakistan is a source of immense pride and motivation for her.
“By acknowledging my letters published in recognized national newspapers, the Press Network of Pakistan has highlighted the importance of thoughtful writing as a powerful tool for awareness, dialogue, and social responsibility. This recognition reflects PNP’s strong commitment to merit and its encouragement of writers who address societal issues with honesty and purpose.”
“I truly admire the efforts of the Press Network of Pakistan in uplifting journalistic standards and appreciating literary contributions. I am thankful to the respected jury, organizers, and leadership of PNP for their valuable efforts in promoting excellence. This honor will always remain a cherished milestone in my journey.”
Kinza Manahil, described winning the PNP Letter of Excellence Awards as a major milestone in her writing journey, emphasizing that it would continue to guide and inspire her future endeavors.
“Receiving the PNP Letter of Excellence Award is far more than an honor—it is a source of inspiration to continue striving for excellence. This recognition has reinforced my confidence as a writer and motivates me to work with even greater dedication. By recognizing my work, the Press Network of Pakistan has emphasized the importance of writing in contributing to social development. This honor has significantly boosted my confidence as a writer and motivates me to work with even greater dedication and responsibility.”
Sajjad Ali termed the PNP Letter of Excellence Awards a reflection of PNP’s intellectually enriching environment.
“It is a profound honor to receive this award from the Press Network of Pakistan, an institution that provided me with exceptional mentorship and practical learning. The foundational training I received at PNP, particularly in letter writing, enabled me to publish more than 40 opinion articles nationally and internationally. I am proud to be an alumnus of PNP.”
He further described PNP as a beacon of practical learning and motivation, emphasizing the organization’s role in instilling discipline, aspiration, and confidence among young writers. “It is a privilege to be an alumnus of PNP, an institution whose mission to inspire and empower young, talented individuals to raise their voices on national and global platforms is truly commendable. I remain deeply thankful to the entire PNP team for their selfless efforts and invaluable guidance, which will always remain close to my heart,”
Wasif Khaliq Dad highlighted PNP’s role in encouraging ethical journalism and national engagement. According to him, being acknowledged as the winner of the PNP Letter of Excellence Awards 2025 was a matter of pride, particularly as the recognition was based on relevance, clarity, and commitment to excellence—values actively upheld by the Press Network of Pakistan.
“The PNP Letter of Excellence Award is not only a personal milestone but also a reflection of PNP’s commitment to promoting quality writing and responsible expression. The platform enabled me to present my ideas at a national level and motivated me to continue contributing positively to public discourse.”
“Winning this award has further motivated me to continue writing with greater dedication and purpose, knowing that thoughtful writing can positively influence public awareness and national dialogue. I proudly credit the Press Network of Pakistan for this honor and for its ongoing commitment to nurturing writers and journalists who strive to make a difference through words.”
Hayan Ahmed Khan praised the PNP Internship Program as a transformative learning experience.
“The internship program at the Press Network of Pakistan stands out as a highly enriching professional experience, offering practical exposure that goes far beyond conventional academic training. It provided me with real-world insight into journalism, writing, and media ethics.”
“Through the platform of the Press Network of Pakistan, I had the privilege of publishing more than 50 articles in well-known newspapers—an achievement that remains a great honor for me. This journey allowed me to raise my voice not only at the national level but also on international platforms,”
Sahiba Jalal emphasized that the PNP Letter of Excellence Awards 2025 acknowledges the efforts of young writers who use their voices for awareness, dialogue, and social betterment.
“I extend my deep gratitude to the Press Network of Pakistan for appreciating my published letters and nominating me among the winners of the PNP Letter of Excellence Award. This award is not only a token of appreciation but also a constant source of inspiration and motivation to continue contributing meaningfully to public discourse.”
“I am especially grateful to PNP for its well-organized internship program that offered me not only valuable insights into journalism but also practical involvement through the publication of my letters in renowned national newspapers.”
Similarly, other winners Muhammad Wajdan, Nabeel Haider and Yumna Hassan Lutki also acknowledged that the award would serve as a lasting source of motivation. According to them, seeing their letters published in leading national newspapers was a source of great encouragement.
Strengthening the Culture of Letters to the Editor
The Press Network of Pakistan believes that Letters to the Editor remain one of the most powerful yet accessible forms of public expression. Through concise, fact-based, and well-reasoned writing, young contributors can influence policy conversations, highlight overlooked issues, and represent public sentiment without requiring access to formal media platforms.
The PNP Internship Program has consistently encouraged interns to utilize this space responsibly, and the PNP Letter of Excellence Awards are a continuation of this philosophy—transforming effort into recognition and motivation.
PNP’s Continued Commitment to Young Writers
PNP encourages current and future interns to continue using their voices responsibly and creatively, reinforcing the belief that meaningful change often begins with a well-written letter. The successful completion of the PNP Letter of Excellence Awards 2025 reinforces PNP’s mission to empower young writers, promote ethical journalism, and encourage constructive civic engagement. By recognizing talent from across multiple universities and regions, PNP continues to strengthen Pakistan’s media and opinion-writing ecosystem.
“We, at the Press Network of Pakistan, congratulates all winners once again and look forward to seeing their continued contributions to national and international discourse,” the Chief Executive Sabahuddin Qazi concluded, emphasizing that: “With the successful completion of the PNP Letter of Excellence Awards 2025, the Press Network of Pakistan plans to further strengthen its internship-driven initiatives, introduce additional learning opportunities, and expand recognition platforms for youth-led media engagement.”
