2025 RESULTS
WINNER
Chai and the City
by
Sidra Nisar
Brewed With Imagination
We are delighted to announce that the Award for 2025 goes to writer Sidra Nisar for her compelling short story CHAI AND THE CITY. Funny, wistful, and tender character sketches of the customers who visit a Karachi chai dhaba are portrayed through the eyes of Chacha Wahid, the owner-cum-listener of the establishment.
The winning author Sidra Nisar is a 27-year-old writer from Karachi whose story was inspired by the city itself. “Many of these reflections came to me while sitting at real chai dhabas, watching people gather over chai. There’s something profoundly human about those moments when students, workers, and dreamers find the same comfort in a single, steaming cup. Chai, for me, has become more than just a drink; it is an emotion — a universal language of comfort, celebration, and love. Through this story, I wanted to capture how one cup of chai can hold an entire city’s heart.”
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Ajrak and Ashes
by
Zahra Haider
A not unfamiliar theme of the discovery of another wife after the death of a husband is given fresh impetus as a contemplation of sisterhood blossoming from a shared intimacy.
Ghusl Before Maghrib
by
Maryam Zahid
As the Azan sounds, a woman performs her ablutions. An atmospheric story full of powerful sensuousness and imagery with a plot that cleverly subverts expectations.
Drenched in Qorma and Dread
by
Sumayya Arshed
An amusing satire about a family meal at Eid that interrogates gender roles with wit in a voice that is both deeply serious and hilarious.
Motia
by
Alina Ehtesham
Seen through the eyes of a child, a second wife joins the household. An ode to friendship and trust between women across generations, and to the ways that patriarchy and cycles of violence can be resisted.
A polished piece of writing that examines a mother-daughter relationship as it evolves before, during and after a camping trip to the mountains.
The Etymology of Maman
by
Elia Rathore
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNING AND HIGHLY COMMENDED AUTHORS. THEIR STORIES WILL BE PUBLISHED ON OUR WEBSITE IN DECEMBER​
A WRITING COMPETITION FOR WOMEN WITH A RS.100,000 CASH PRIZE
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Named in honour of Zeenat Haroon Rashid (21 Jan 1928 - 8 April 2017), a founding member of the Womens National Guard at the time of Independence, a prize of Rs.100,000 (1 Lakh) is awarded annually through a competition for writing in English.
The competition is open to all women of Pakistani nationality or Pakistani heritage (with CNIC or NICOP) aged 18 and above and entries must be original, previously unpublished works of no more than 3000 words. The genre alternates each year between fiction and nonfiction and the entry can be on any subject as long as the writing has Pakistan as its canvas or location. The judges will look for a piece of writing with an original voice.
From amongst all entries, the best will be chosen for consideration by a panel of judges drawn from writers, editors, academics and publishers. The panel will then draw up a shortlist of 6 before agreeing on a winner.
The winning entry will be published online and, if appropriate, in a national newspaper or magazine.
"No nation can rise to the height of glory unless your women are side by side with you. We are victims of evil customs. It is a crime against humanity that our women are shut up within the four walls of the houses as prisoners. There is no sanction anywhere for the deplorable condition in which our women have to live”
From a speech given by Mr. Jinnah at the Muslim University Union’s meeting in Aligarh, March 10, 1944
ANTHOLOGY AVAILABLE NOW!
MIGHTIER
Fearless. Moving. Angry. Funny. Surreal.
Available online from Reverie Publishers and at all good bookshops.
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