February 2025

2025: The Year Ahead

In 2024, APF marked its 15th anniversary with impactful initiatives empowering the Pakistani American community through leadership development, civic engagement, and cultural exchange. APF expanded experiential learning with fellowships at the Stimson Center and Human Development Foundation, engaged youth through the inaugural PSA competition, and promoted civic participation with its Get Out The Vote campaign.

 The launch of the PAK Network fostered cultural dialogue, while APF’s National Day of Giving served over 500 families across multiple cities, providing meals and toys to those in need. Strengthened by new leadership and the Candid Gold Seal of Transparency, APF continues to bridge communities and drive meaningful change.

Learn more about APF's 2024 impact.

In this issue of the APF Monthly, we are happy to share some of our exciting 2025 programs and initiatives. Learn how you can get involved!

APF Pakistan Fellows 2025 Program: Accepting Applications

Are You Ready to Make an Impact?

APF invites students and young professionals to apply for the APF Fellows 2025 Program! This prestigious fellowship provides opportunities to engage in social and economic development initiatives in Pakistan through virtual and in-person placements with leading organizations. Fellows will gain invaluable cross-cultural experience, professional development, and mentorship while contributing to meaningful projects that drive change.

Why Apply?

• Professional Development: Engage in hands-on work with partner organizations in Pakistan and the United States.
• Networking & Mentorship: Connect with industry leaders, policymakers, and fellow changemakers.
• Cross-Cultural Exchange: Develop a deeper understanding of development challenges and innovative solutions in Pakistan.
• Public Engagement: Present your final project in an APF-hosted webinar and share your experience through APF’s platforms.

Program Details

📅 Program Duration: Late May – August 2025 (varies slightly depending on partner)

⏳ Application Deadline: March 14, 2025

📍 Format: Virtual and in-person opportunities available.



🎓 Eligibility: Open to college students and young professionals passionate about social impact and development in Pakistan.

APF Emerging Leaders 2025 Program: A NEW Program Accepting Applications

Are you a Pakistani American college student or young professional (ages 18-21) looking to develop leadership skills, build your professional network, and create meaningful impact?

The APF Emerging Leaders Program is now accepting applications for the 2025 cohort! This six-month mentorship and professional development program is designed to help driven young leaders gain career clarity, enhance their resumes and LinkedIn profiles, build essential skills, and develop impactful projects aligned with APF’s mission. This is a part-time virtual fellowship program with no fees or stipend.

Program Overview

📅 Program Duration: March – September 2025

⏳ Application Deadline: March 7, 2025

📍 Format: Virtual (biweekly 1-hour sessions + mentorship + project)



🎓 Eligibility: Pakistani American undergraduate level students and other youth interested in Pakistani American diaspora leadership development.

APF Leadership Council Leadership Team 2025

The APF Leadership Council (LC) is a network of Pakistani American professionals, students, and allies who help implement the APF mission to empower the Pakistani American community in all aspects of American life and to build bridges between the United States and Pakistan. Here is our 2025 LC Leadership Team:

Team & Program Leads:

LC Chair and Community Service Lead: Mustafa Mohammad, Manager of Project Management at Quanta

Career Development Lead (including APF One): Zeeshan Malik, Director of Investor Relations and Marketing Professional

Civic Engagement Lead (including GOTV 2025): Tehmeena Khan, Manager at Doherty Enterprises

Community Relations Lead: Shaff Qureshi, Managing Partner at Jungle Advisor

Culture & Heritage Lead (including PAK Network): Amber Chaudhry, Founder & Principal at CivStrat Advisors

Emerging Leaders Lead: Sadia Malik, Youth Director at Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati

Regional Ambassadors:

West:

Mehwish Nasir (Bay Area), Executive Board Member at OPEN Global

Shaamyl Anwar (Seattle), Software Engineer at Amazon Web Services

Midwest:

Syed Shah (Chicago), VP of Sales at Farmer's Fridge

Nabil Syed (Chicago), SVP, Operations at User Interviews

Northeast:

Faaiz Masood (Boston), Senior Software Solutions Analyst at Bamboo Rose

Iqra Waheed (NYC), BA/BS Student at Columbia University

DMV:

Mansoor Bhatti, VP at City National Bank

South:

Alysha Siddiqi (OK), Advocacy and Outreach Team at TCY Women

Gahssan Mehmood (SC), Fulbright Scholar, PhD Student at University of South Carolina

If you would like to learn more or join APF Leadership Council, please click the button below or e-mail us at info@americanpakistan.org.

APF UN 2025 Fellows

We are pleased to announce the selection of our four APF UN Fellows for 2025! This fellowship is designed to give college students exposure to the inner workings of the United Nations Economic and Social Council and empower themselves to advocate for and explore social and economic issues surrounding the Pakistani American diaspora. 

Get to know our fellows below:

Rai Hasen Masoud Kharal is an undergraduate student at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, originally from Nankana Sahib, Punjab, studying International Economics and Development with a focus on Asia. Rai has prior experience working with the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations, World Economic Forum, Center for Security & Emerging Technology (CSET) and currently collaborates with the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, D.C.

Laiba Khan, a senior at Harvard University from Brooklyn, New York, is pursuing an honors degree in Philosophy on the pre-law track. She is passionate about immigration law and policy, gaining hands-on experience through her internship at a nonprofit, where she assisted an immigration attorney with legal research and client advocacy.

Aina Nadeem is a sophomore at Dartmouth College, double majoring in Economics and History with a passion for policy, development, and everything in between. A competitive debater born and raised in Lahore, Aina thrives on lively discussions, whether in high-stakes arguments or casual late-night talks. Aina loves exploring everything; from finance and engineering to literature and poetry, always finding fun ways to connect the dots.

Ayman Habib, originally from Karachi, is a senior pursuing her BA in Global Affairs at George Mason University. She has interned at the United Nations Refugee Agency. Within George Mason University, Ayman serves as the Deputy Executive Director for No Lost Generation, a student organization committed to supporting refugees. She brings value to her work from her experience of growing up in Pakistan and immigrating to the United States. 

The Mosaic - A Tapestry of the APF Community

Welcome to The Mosaic, an APF Monthly section dedicated to sharing the many stories, voices, and milestones that shape the Pakistani American experience.

PAK Network Episode on Women Changemakers

As part of our Pakistani American Knowledge (PAK) Network series, our latest podcast episode delves into young Pakistani American women in high school who have founded nonprofit initiatives that create lasting change. Join Amina Akram, APF Board member, as she hosts Amaani Sehgal, Founder of Providentia Books and an APF Emerging Leader, and Samia Waheed, Founder of NASAI and an APF Leadership Council member, in a Women Changemakers podcast. Watch Here

TED Talk by Dr. Uzma Iqbal

Dr. Uzma Iqbal, APF community member and former Board member, takes the TEDx stage with an inspiring talk on "Self-Compassion is Not Selfish." She discusses the role of self-compassion in bridging the empathy gap and tackling declining levels of empathy not only at work, but in society as well. Watch Here