Eight young Pakistanis have won the 2026 Diana Award, one of the most widely recognised honours for young people carrying out social action and humanitarian work.

The eight are among 198 recipients from 44 countries honoured at the 2026 Diana Award virtual ceremony on 4 November. Each received a personal letter from the Prince of Wales and from Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, continuing their support for the legacy of their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

Who are the eight Pakistani winners?

The Pakistani recipients are Ali Ahmed Manj, Areeba Suleman, Mariam Rehman, Muhammad Ibrahim, Noor Abdul Ghani, Reya Yassir Khawaja, Sara Ali and Vishal Parkash.

Ali Ahmed Manj has spent five years running student-led medical camps across Karachi and rural Sindh through his organisation, the Humanity Initiative, which has served more than 10,000 patients in communities where formal healthcare barely reaches. Areeba Suleman founded SheRise Pakistan in Dera Ghazi Khan, the area's first student-led youth organisation, focused on girls' education and youth leadership.

Mariam Rehman launched the Pro-Justice Project, a pro bono legal initiative offering free legal assistance, while Muhammad Ibrahim used digital mapping to help flood-affected people reach help and services.

From STEM to menstrual health

Noor Abdul Ghani, a machine learning engineer, founded WinSci Pakistan to encourage more girls into science and technology. Reya Yassir Khawaja created SAFE, an initiative raising awareness of menstrual hygiene, and Sara Ali founded the Pakistan Polio Project to challenge vaccine misinformation directly.

Vishal Parkash founded RUBAN, which works on improving financial access for marginalised communities. The award recognises work aligned with four United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: quality education, good health and wellbeing, reduced inequalities and climate action.

The 2026 nominations were reviewed by 33 independent judging panels, each made up of three judges drawn from different sectors, backgrounds and areas of expertise. Judges assessed leadership, tangible impact, peer empowerment, resilience and integrity, and sustainability and legacy. India had the largest number of recipients this year with 49, followed by Nigeria with 25, while Pakistan's eight put it among the better-represented countries on the Roll of Honour.

What the Diana Award is

Established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, the Diana Award is the only charity bearing her name and has the support of both her sons. It is given to young people aged 16 to 25 who are nominated by adults who have seen their commitment to social action, with each nomination assessed by independent judging panels.

Dr Tessy Ojo, chief executive of the Diana Award, said the recipients' courage, compassion and determination to tackle some of the world's most pressing challenges were a powerful reminder that young people are the changemakers of today. Pakistan was one of 44 countries represented in this year's Roll of Honour, with nine countries appearing for the first time.