Pakistani novelist Alishba Khan Barech was appointed winner of the “Young Woman of the Year” category at the Women Changing The World Awards 2025, a press release issued on Friday said on Friday.
The Women Changing The World Awards is a global program that recognizes the work of “incredible women who make a positive difference in the world in a variety of industries and areas that include businesses, sustainability, leadership, health, education, product development, innovation and technology.”
The awards are aimed at amplifying the voices and contributions of women worldwide, and “arouse hearts and recovering dreams” through collective empowerment, said the press release today.
Last month, Barech was selected as a finalist for the category and was held throughout Pakistan at that time, praised as a moment of national pride.
According to the press release, Barech was officially appointed world winner on April 3 at the ceremony held at the Park Hyatt London River Thames.
It was awarded by Dr. Térai Trent by Zimbabwe-American and Sarah Ferguson of Great Britain, the Duchess of York.
Alishba’s work has long focused on rewriting dominant narratives, particularly around Baluchistan, according to the press release.
“She is the youngest novelist and memorial of Pakistan, after having written her debut novel at the age of 11, the youngest 14 -year -old memory and author self -edited at age 16,” he said.
He said that his activism covered the work with Unicef Pakistan as a youth ambassador of mental health and eradication of polyomyelitis, and currently served as a youth advisor to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and was also a member of the National Youth Council.
“She works as a youth ambassador of the Cricket Quetta Gladiators franchise,” said the press release, added that it was also the first Baluchistan Pashtún to ensure a merit scholarship for the Summer University John Locke.
According to the press release, Alishba said: “As I said before, my mission has always been to rewrite the stories that define us.”
“This award is dedicated with all my heart to my parents, my teachers, my beloved Baluchistan province and my country Pakistan,” he said.
“Yesterday, when the name of my country was called among the global winners, it was more than a personal milestone: it was proof that resilience and brilliance can increase from Nushki and Quetta, not only the headlines of conflicts and militancy to which we have grown up,” Barech said.
“There is nothing more special than bringing a global prize for its people,” he added.
