British Council alumni awards: 9 Pakistanis among finalists

Selected in the professional, entrepreneur and social impact categories

ISLAMABAD: The British Council on Friday announced the names of nine Pakistanis, among other finalists, for awards celebrating outstanding achievements by international alumni of UK universities.

The Study UK Alumni Awards, created by the British Council in partnership with UK higher education institutions, intends to recognise outstanding people who have studied at UK higher education institutions in the last 15 years, according to a statement issued by the council.

The nine finalists from Pakistan were selected in the entrepreneurial, professional achievement, and social impact categories.

Those chosen for the professional achievement award include Umar Saif – who studied at the University of Cambridge, Amna Zamir – who studied at the University of Leicester, and Usman Qamar - who studied at the University of Manchester.

Saif is currently head of the Punjab information Technology Board. Zamir is currently a judge, while Qamar heads the Knowledge and Data Engineering Research Centre at National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad.

Pakistanis who made their mark in the entrepreneurial category were Ahmed Daniyal Siddiqui from the University of Strathclyde, Nousheen Zakaria from the University of Leeds and University of Sheffield, and Sibtain Jiwani from the Manchester Metropolitan University.

Similarly, those finalised for the social impact awards include Abia Akram from the University of Warwick, Kamran Siddiqui from Queen Mary University, and Moneeza Burney from Sheffield Hallam University.

This year, 14 award ceremonies will take place including in Pakistan, Egypt, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Turkey and the USA.

Top alumni were selected from over 1,200 applicants worldwide, many of whom were nominated by their host UK universities, the statement added.

“I am delighted that Pakistan is hosting the Alumni Awards for the second consecutive year. The award is all about honouring the success of individuals whose achievements here in Pakistan have been, in some measure, influenced by their experience of studying at a UK university,” said Rosemary Hilhorst, the director of British Council Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th, 2017.