Five Pakistani Youth Leaders Win QECT 100 Young Leaders Award; Two Meet King Charles III in London

By Sobia Ali

LONDON: Five young leaders from Pakistan have received the Queen Elizabeth II Commonwealth Trust (QECT) 100 Young Leaders Award. Two recipients, Danish Sohail and Joshua Dilawar, met King Charles III and Queen Camilla at St James’s Palace in London.

The royal reception took place ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2026. The awards mark the 100th birth anniversary of the late Queen Elizabeth II in April 2026.

The programme honours 100 changemakers aged 18 to 35 from across 56 Commonwealth countries. Each recipient leads or has founded a social impact initiative. Their work delivers measurable results in education, health, the environment, food and agriculture, or inclusion.

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Pakistan’s awardees include Danish Sohail, Joshua Dilawar, Hassan Ashraf and Farah Gul Rahuja. The fifth recipient’s name was not available in the information provided.

Young Leaders Driving Social Change

Danish Sohail co-founded The Young Changemakers. The youth-led organisation operates in Pakistan and has a chapter in the United Kingdom.

Its work covers sexual and reproductive health and rights, inclusion, climate action and the Sustainable Development Goals. Sohail has helped young Pakistanis, especially those from marginalised communities, lead change in their own communities.

Joshua Dilawar is associated with Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA). He is also an alumnus of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme. His work focuses on education and youth development.

Hassan Ashraf serves on the Prime Minister’s National Youth Council.

Nishat Colony Celebrates Their Achievement

Sohail and Dilawar both come from Nishat Colony. Their international recognition has filled the community with pride.

Community members recalled the biblical question, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” They said the achievements of the two young leaders provide a clear answer for anyone asking the same about Nishat Colony: yes.

Joshua Dilawar Reflects on the Royal Reception

Dilawar described meeting the King and Queen as a profound honour. He joined dignitaries and changemakers from across the Commonwealth. He also expressed pride in sharing the occasion with his friend and “brother”, Danish Sohail.

“I am still taking in the weight of this experience, representing Pakistan, our young people, colleagues, and the work we do together every single day for substantial change and development,” Dilawar said.

He added: “Grateful. Grounded. And more committed than ever.”

Rana Mashhood, chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, had earlier praised the Pakistani awardees. He described their selection as a “defining moment” for the country’s youth.

The award highlights the growing contribution of young Pakistanis to social development. These leaders are addressing community challenges through practical initiatives. Their recognition also brings international attention to youth-led work in Pakistan.