NEWS
June 2025
Panel: ‘What next for Pakistan?’
The VNEF co-hosted a panel discussion on the future of Pakistan on 27 June 2025 at St Antony’s College, Oxford.
Pakistan’s history is marked by economic, political, cultural, and developmental challenges, often complicated by relations with India. Periods of optimism and reform have frequently faced setbacks. Nonetheless, Pakistan continues to grow, with a robust economy and an emerging middle class seeking stability. The panel explored potential pathways for positive development in the context of global geopolitics.
The discussion was moderated by Dr Paul Flather, Chair of the VNEF, and included Professor Stefan Dercon, Professor of Economic Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government and the Economics Department, Oxford, and Dr Farzana Shaikh, Associate Fellow, Asia-Pacific Programme at Chatham House, London.
May 2025
2026 Scholars Reunion & 30th Anniversary
Over 30 years, the VNEF has supported more than 230 exceptional Noon Scholars to study at Oxford and Cambridge.
The Trustees are reaching out to past Scholars to learn about their careers, contributions to Pakistan’s development, and to build a supportive alumni network. This initiative reflects founder Vicky Noon’s vision that successful Scholars return to Pakistan to contribute to societal wellbeing and national development.
Plans are underway to establish a Noon Alumni Society as part of the reunion, with opportunities for key volunteers to take leadership roles. The two-day event will focus on university, education, ideas, and leadership, featuring distinguished keynote speakers.
Find out more here.
November 2024
Trustees meet Noon Scholar Hamza Adnan
Trustees Paul Flather and Faisal Devji are pictured meeting one of the 2024-25 Scholars, Hamza Adnan, who is pursuing an MPhil in Computer Science at St Hilda’s College, Oxford.
Looking Back: The VNEF in 2002
In 2002, Dr Paul Flather, Chair of the VNEF, visited Pakistan with a strong message: to continue Lady Noon’s vision of helping young Pakistani scholars study at the world-renowned universities of Oxford and Cambridge.
That year marked the Foundation’s 10th anniversary, having supported 90 students in its first decade – many of whom returned to Pakistan to contribute to the nation’s progress.
Read the original 2002 article here.
October 2024
Professor Haroon Ahmed (2 March 1936 – 23 October 2024)
The Foundation is deeply saddened by the passing of Professor Haroon Ahmed, a distinguished academic, warm colleague, and active member of the VNEF for 20 years.
Read a tribute to Professor Ahmed here.
July 2024
Sir Nicholas Barrington retires after almost 30 years as VNEF Trustee
The Foundation celebrated the retirement of Sir Nicholas Barrington, a founding Trustee, at a dinner hosted at Clare College, Cambridge, following the Annual General Meeting when new Noon Scholars were selected.
Sir Nicholas is a former British Diplomat who served as First Secretary, British Ambassador and High Commissioner to Pakistan. He has helped develop UK-Asia relations, chairing the Pakistan Society, and raising funds for Islamic studies at Cambridge.
Since 1992, Sir Nicholas has contributed greatly to the Foundation’s ongoing success and was a close friend of founder Lady Vicky Noon.
You can watch Dr Paul Flather, Chair of the VNEF, pay tribute here.
July 2024
Rosemary Raza retires after almost 20 years as VNEF Trustee
Dr Rosemary Raza, who has served the VNEF as Trustee since 2005, was honoured at a retirement dinner on 9 July 2024 at Clare College, Cambridge.
Dr Raza, alumnus of Somerville College, Oxford, and former British diplomat, also served as Federal Minister in Z.A. Bhutto’s cabinet. She returned to Somerville in the 1990s, and now researches and writes on the subcontinent, focusing on art and women’s literature.
Watch Dr Paul Flather, chair of the VNEF, give praise to Rosemary here.
June 2023
Trustee Ameena Saiyid OBE on ‘The Freedom to Publish in Pakistan – A Personal Story’
During the 2023 AGM, Trustee Ameena Saiyid OBE shared her experiences as Managing Director of Oxford University Press Pakistan and founder of Lightstone Publishers.
Ameena joined OUP Pakistan in 1979 and became Managing Director in 1988, the first woman in Pakistan to lead a multinational company. She founded Pakistan’s literature festival movement, including festivals in Karachi and Islamabad, as well as the Children’s Literature Festival. She was awarded an OBE in 2005 and the Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 2018.
Watch Ameena’s talk on YouTube now!
June 2023
Trustees select new Noon Scholars for 2023-24
At the end of June 2023, Trustees met at SOAS for their Annual General Meeting (AGM) to select new Noon Scholars for the upcoming academic year. As always, the Trustees were amazed at the outstanding quality of the applications received.
The AGM was followed by a successful Scholars’ Reception, attended by past and present Scholars, Trustees, and supporters of the Foundation.
June 2023
Chair and Trustees speak at Pakistan Literature Festival in London
VNEF Chair Dr Paul Flather, along with Trustees Ameena Saiyid OBE, Professor Kamal Munir and Professor Faisal Devji, participated in panels at the Pakistan Literature Festival in London. Ameena co-founded the first literature festival in Pakistan in 2010 with Asif Farrukhi. The London festival brought together nearly 100 Pakistani and international authors, intellectuals, and media personalities.
March 2023
Chair meets Oxford Noon Scholar Nawal Rai
Dr Paul Flather, Chair of the VNEF, met with one of the 2022-23 Oxford Noon Scholars, Nawal Rai, at the Ashmolean Museum earlier this year.
Nawal is working towards her MPhil in Development Studies. She completed her undergraduate degree in Political Science and Economics at Lahore University of Management Sciences, finishing in 2021.
March 2023
Chair meets Oxford Noon Scholar Muhammad Safian Adeel
Dr Paul Flather, chair of the VNEF, was delighted to meet with one of our two current Oxford Noon Scholars, Muhammad Safian Adeel, at the Ashmolean Museum earlier this year. Muhammad is studying for his MSc in Taxation at Harris Manchester College.
Muhammad is Deputy Commissioner of Pakistan’s Inland Revenue Service, and was previously an Assistant Professor at the University of Engineering & Technology in Lahore.
September 2022
Dr Humayun Khan (31 August 1932 – 22 September 2022)
The Foundation is deeply saddened to announce the passing away of former Chair and Trustee, Dr Humayun Khan, a distinguished diplomat and former Director of the Commonwealth Foundation.
Dr Khan played a key role in guiding the Foundation’s work. He was also a devoted brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle and a pillar of strength for his family. We extend our deepest sympathies to all his family and friends. You can read Dr Khan’s obituary in The Telegraph.
June 2022
VNEF welcomes new Trustee Professor Kamal Munir
The VNEF is delighted to welcome Professor Kamal Munir to the Board of Trustees. Professor Munir currently serves as Pro Vice-Chancellor for Community and Engagement at Cambridge University, Professor of Strategy, and Fellow of Homerton College. He replaces former Cambridge-based Trustee Professor Haroon Ahmed.
June 2022
Farewell to Trustee Professor Haroon Ahmed
Remembering Vicky Noon at the London LLF
Chair Paul Flather and Trustee Rosemary Raza participated in a discussion at the London Lahore Literary Festival celebrating Vicky Noon, founder of the Noon Foundation and advocate for women’s education.
Watch the video here.
VNEF welcomes new Trustee Professor Faisal Devji
The Foundation is delighted to welcome a new Trustee, Professor Faisal Devji. He serves as Director of the Oxford University Asian Studies Institute and Fellow of St Antony’s College, Oxford, and has written extensively on Pakistan, South Asian history and politics.
Pakistan – the Oxbridge Connections: A Talk by Professor Haroon Ahmed
Professor Haroon Ahmed delivered a talk exploring how Oxford and Cambridge shaped graduates who have made significant contributions to Pakistan.
VNEF welcomes new Trustee Ameena Sayid OBE
The Foundation is pleased to welcome Ameena Sayid OBE as the newest member of our Board of Trustees. Ameena is Managing Director of Oxford University Press Pakistan, with additional responsibilities for the Middle East, Central Asia, and North Africa. She is the first woman in Pakistan to be President of the Overseas Investors’ Chamber of Commerce Industry (OICCI) in its 150 year history, and to become head of a multinational company. In 2005, she was awarded an OBE, and in 2013, the Chevalier des Arts et Lettres by the Government of France. She is the Founder and Director of the Karachi and Islamabad Literature Festivals.
November 2015
Sohaib Shamim (9 September 1984 – 6 November 2015)
Sohaib Shamim, who graduated from Mansfield College in 2006 with a master’s degree in Physics, passed away unexpectedly on 6 November 2015 at the age of 31. Born and raised in Lahore, he studied at Lahore Grammar School before being awarded a Noon Scholarship.
Despite several opportunities to establish a comfortable career in London after graduating, Sohaib chose to return to Pakistan, driven by a deep commitment to advancing education in his home country. He joined the physics faculty at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), one of Pakistan’s leading institutions.
Among other interests, Sohaib enjoyed mountaineering and cricket – reflected in the many photographs of him standing amid the tortuous peaks of northern Pakistan, or dressed in all-white cricket gear on one of Oxford’s cricket pitches.
Above all, Sohaib was distinguished by his remarkable humility, kindness, and compassion. Those who knew him speak of his unfailing gentleness and his unwavering willingness to help others – whether close friends or distant acquaintances – without hesitation and without expecting anything in return. It is difficult to find anyone who could recall him showing animosity or dwelling on misfortune; his quiet generosity of spirit touched many lives.
Sohaib’s funeral was held in Lahore on 6 November 2015. He is survived by his parents and younger brother.