Two Pakistani Journalists Under 30 Win Prestigious 2025 DAJA Award for Climate Reporting

In a historic moment for Pakistani journalism, Faisal Rehman and Hamna Iqbal Baig, two independent journalists under the age of 30, have won the prestigious Developing Asia Journalism Award (DAJA) 2025, hosted by the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI). This marks the first time in nearly five years that Pakistani journalists have received this honor and the first time ever that two have won together for a collaborative investigation.

Their award-winning story, “In the Heat of Labour: How Pakistan’s Expectant Mothers Battle Heatwaves,” was one of five selected across Asia and the Pacific for outstanding reporting on climate change, environmental justice, and the impact on vulnerable communities. The piece was published by FairPlanet, an international media outlet known for covering human rights and social justice.

The investigation exposed the severe risks extreme heat poses to pregnant women in Pakistan’s urban heat island zones. Combining on-ground reporting with evidence-based research, expert insights, and firsthand testimonies, the story revealed how climate change intersects with gender, health, and inequality an area often ignored in mainstream climate narratives.

Faisal Rehman added, “Winning the DAJA 2025 is an incredible honor, especially for a story that touches on such an urgent yet overlooked crisis. Climate change isn’t gender-neutral. Another key challenge we faced was the lack of local experts with in-depth knowledge on this specific issue — we eventually had to consult with a researcher in India to fill the gap. There’s also a serious research vacuum in Pakistan: apart from one ongoing study by Aga Khan University and a small-scale 2023 report by the White Ribbon Alliance, there’s been no comprehensive national study conducted so far.”

This award is not just a personal achievement — it’s a recognition of the power of collaborative, community-rooted journalism,” said Hamna Iqbal Baig. “One of the major challenges we faced was trying to establish a direct link between heatwaves and stillbirths or preterm deliveries, based on the experiences shared by expectant mothers. Proving causality with anecdotal evidence is incredibly complex. Moreover, several hospitals were either unwilling or unable to share relevant data, which made evidence-gathering even more difficult.”

She added, “By centering the voices of affected women, I hope to push for more research, better policies, and stronger systems that can protect vulnerable mothers and babies in a changing climate.”

According to the official DAJA 2025 press release, the winning stories were chosen for their focus on “the situations faced by women and disadvantaged or marginalized groups,” and included themes such as rising sea levels in Fiji, AI’s impact on Philippine BPO workers, and soil degradation in Laos.

The winners will be honored in a virtual ceremony on July 24, organized by ADBI. DAJA aims to support high-impact journalism across Asia that advances sustainable development, holds power to account, and amplifies marginalized voices.

This achievement not only highlights the growing strength of independent journalism in Pakistan but also underscores the global importance of telling climate stories through inclusive, community-driven lenses.