Pakistani novelist Alishba Khan Barech was honored as the winner of the “Young Woman of the Year” category at the 2025 Women Changing the World Awards, according to a press release on Friday.
The Women Changing The World Awards is a global initiative that celebrates exceptional women positively impacting various fields, including business, sustainability, leadership, health, education, innovation, and technology.
The awards aim to amplify women’s voices worldwide and foster collective empowerment to “awaken hearts and recapture dreams,” the press release stated.
Barech, who had previously been named a finalist for the category and received widespread recognition in Pakistan, officially received the global honor on April 3 at the ceremony held at the Park Hyatt London River Thames.
She was presented the award by Dr. Tererai Trent, a Zimbabwean-American, and Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York from Britain.
Alishba’s literary work has been focused on reshaping predominant narratives, particularly regarding Balochistan, the press release highlighted. She is recognized as Pakistan’s youngest novelist and memoirist, having penned her debut novel at age 11, memoir at 14, and self-published work at 16.
Her activism extends to serving as a youth ambassador for mental health and polio eradication with Unicef Pakistan, currently advising Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif as a youth advisor, and participating as a member of the National Youth Council. She also holds the distinction of being a youth ambassador for the Quetta Gladiators cricket franchise and securing a merit scholarship to the John Locke Summer University as the first female Pashtun from Balochistan.
Reflecting on her achievement, Alishba stated, “My mission has always been to rewrite the narratives that define us.” She dedicated the award “with all my heart to my parents, teachers, my beloved province Balochistan, and Pakistan.”
She added, “Yesterday, when my country was recognized among global achievers, it was more than a personal milestone—it was proof that stories of resilience and brilliance can emerge from Nushki and Quetta, beyond the headlines of conflict and militancy we often hear.”
“There is nothing more meaningful than bringing a global award home for your people,” she concluded.