Fahad Mustafa and singer Hasan Raheem were among the big winners at Pakistan’s first-ever Influencer Awards, held at Karachi’s Expo Centre on Saturday evening.
The ceremony honoured online creators across more than 30 categories, from Instagram and TikTok to YouTube, music, food, fashion, gaming and sports. It was the first time Pakistan’s digital stars were celebrated at an awards night of this scale.
Fashion designer Hassan Sheheryar Yasin, actor Rabab Hashim, Dino Ali and comedian Faiza Saleem hosted the evening. Winners were picked after months of performance data checks, expert jury review and public voting.
Top Winners at First Awards
Fahad Mustafa took home the Celebrity Content Creator award in the male category, while Aiman Khan won the same honour among women. Hasan Raheem shared the Music award with Maanu after performing live on stage during the night.
Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar won the Sports Celebrity award. Aroob Jatoi and Hassan Asghar were named Instagram Creators of the Year, Romaisa Khan and Zulqarnain Sikandar took the TikTok honours, and DHA Wali Maid and Sharum ki Sketchbook won on YouTube.
Ducky Bhai and Aroob Jatoi also won the Couple Creator award, while Shahzeb Khan Rind was named best in the Athletes category and Zalmi Plays won in Gaming.
Full Winners List
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| Celebrity Content Creator (Male) | Fahad Mustafa |
| Celebrity Content Creator (Female) | Aiman Khan |
| Music | Maanu and Hasan Raheem |
| Sports Celebrity | Shoaib Akhtar |
| Creator of the Year — Instagram (Female) | Aroob Jatoi |
| Creator of the Year — Instagram (Male) | Hassan Asghar |
| Creator of the Year — TikTok (Female) | Romaisa Khan |
| Creator of the Year — TikTok (Male) | Zulqarnain Sikandar |
| Creator of the Year — YouTube (Female) | DHA Wali Maid |
| Creator of the Year — YouTube (Male) | Sharum ki Sketchbook |
| Emerging Creator — Instagram | Muhammad Haris |
| Emerging Creator — TikTok | Maryam Asjad |
| Emerging Creator — YouTube | Saim Rehman |
| Travel | Barira Khan |
| Fitness | Ali Raza |
| Couple Creator | Ducky and Aroob |
| Gaming | Zalmi Plays |
| Social Impact | Mr and Mrs Yellow |
Why Awards Matter for Creators
Pakistan’s online creators now reach millions of people every day, yet until now they had no big awards night of their own. Television and film stars have long had ceremonies that celebrate their work. Creators who build huge audiences from their phones did not.
That gap is what this night tried to close. Chief curator Talha Aslam said the aim is to build an annual platform that sets clear standards for recognising people in Pakistan’s creator economy. Salman Iqbal, head of the ARY group, said creators and mainstream media now share the same audiences, and the best creators deserve recognition that meets global standards of credibility.
English Biscuit Manufacturers (EBM) backed the event as title partner, while ARY Digital Network was the presenting media and streaming partner. Their backing shows that brands and big media houses now see online creators as a serious part of Pakistan’s entertainment world, not a side act.
For young creators, the message is simple: good work online can now earn the same kind of public honour that film and television stars receive. If the awards return every year, they could become the main stage where Pakistan’s next generation of digital talent gets noticed.
FAQs
When and where were Pakistan’s first Influencer Awards held?
The awards took place on Saturday evening at Karachi’s Expo Centre, with creators honoured across more than 30 categories.
Who won the Celebrity Content Creator awards?
Fahad Mustafa won in the male category and Aiman Khan won in the female category.
How were the winners chosen?
Winners were picked through months of performance data analysis, expert jury evaluation and public voting.
