Jugnu Mohsin

Syeda Maimanat Mohsin, also known as Jugnu Mohsin, is a highly accomplished and influential figure in Pakistan's media industry, social activism, and public service.

Her journey began in 1982 when she joined the Women's Action Forum, where her passion for advocating women's rights and social justice took shape. In 1984, she embarked on her journalistic career by joining The Pakistan Times as an editor and columnist, showcasing her talent and commitment to quality journalism. Recognising the importance of education and healthcare, she became a Trustee of The Mohsin Trust in 1986, an organisation established by her parents to uplift the community in their ancestral town of Shergarh in Okara, Punjab.

In 1989, Jugnu Mohsin co-founded The Friday Times, an independent newsweekly, alongside her husband, Najam Sethi. This platform played a pivotal role in promoting freedom of the press and objective reporting in Pakistan. Her dedication to empowering women was evident when she anchored a women's empowerment programme for Pakistan Television during the first government of Benazir Bhutto in 1991.

She co-founded Urdu weekly Aajkal in 1996 and later co-founded The Daily Times, a national daily newspaper, in 2002. Her commitment to promoting peace and cultural understanding led her to co-found Beyond Borders in 2005, a production company that produced short films for television, emphasising Indo-Pak peace.

Beyond her media ventures, Jugnu Mohsin played a pivotal role in community development. In 2008, she expanded the scope of The Mohsin Trust by establishing the Daud Bandagi Development Trust, providing essential services such as clean drinking water through filtration plants, free soup kitchens to combat hunger, and safe leisure spaces for women and children by establishing parks. Moreover, she championed healthcare initiatives by organising traveling weekly health camps and facilitated access to healthcare in hospitals.

Her unwavering dedication to Pakistan and its people earned her numerous accolades, including the prestigious Press Freedom Award by the Committee to Protect Journalists in 2000 and the Sitara-e-Imtiaz awarded by the Government of Pakistan in 2013. Additionally, she actively engaged in political activities, successfully training and fielding candidates in the Local Government Elections of 2015 and ultimately winning a seat in Pakistan's parliament, the Punjab Assembly, as an independent candidate in 2018.

In 2023, Jugnu Mohsin expanded her philanthropic efforts by becoming a Trustee of The Syed Maratab Ali Trust.