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Mariah is a medical student from Karachi who's lifelong dream has been to walk into a bookstore and see her name on a best selling novel. Regional winner of the USEFP writing competition 2019 and other local contests, she knows that this is only the beginning of her writing career
WINNER
THE NIGHT SHIFT
by
Mariah Burney
A darkly comic depiction of Pakistan's struggling medical system portrayed through the eyes of overworked and underappreciated medical students.
WHAT THE JUDGES SAID​
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It captures the absurdities, frustrations, and delusions that come with navigating a public hospital. With witty dialogue and sharp observations, the piece provides a brilliant comedic take on a nightmarish experience, making it both entertaining and reflective of the harsh truths of medical education in Pakistan. - SJ
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A darkly humorous narrative. The writer's jaded, almost detached, tone contrasts with the harrowing hospital scenes and creates a compelling yet uncomfortable read. - MR
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It takes courage to create an unlikeable narrator. The author could so easily have portrayed the struggling medical students as heroes-against-the-odds; instead she presents their under-resourced predicament with candour, humour and a keenly observant eye. -SV
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I liked the frank honesty with which the author described herself and her fellow students ... The narrative worked well - there was some humour and interesting imagery -VS
Vaneeza is a poet and author, who’s poetry has been showcased in magazines such as Ayaskala, Seafoam, and also in Habib Univesity’s Arzu Anthology. She is currently working on her first collection of short stories and occasionally posts her writing on her Substack newsletter “Cut The Cheesecake Already!”
HIGHLYCOMMENDED
A TRIP TO SEAVIEW
by
Vaneeza Sohail
An evocative and poignant meditation on Karachi, which blends together the personal and the external to demonstrate how a city is about the relationships we have in it.
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WHAT THE JUDGES SAID
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​Reclaiming the streets is a common theme among women writers in Pakistan, but weaving in a very personal tale is what makes this memoir refreshing and original … Very evocative and poignant, I found the craft to be excellent. - HZ
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A sensitive and beautiful coming of age narrative. There is a skillfulness and lightness in the writing so that by the end, I found myself genuinely moved. - MR
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Some beautiful turns of phrase in this poignant love/hate letter to a city. The writing produces a diaphanous sort of layered effect as it takes us through the author's shifting relationship with her mother and her home town. - SV
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Personal and engaging, with good emotive descriptions. Very evocative … you can feel yourself by the sea. - VS
Irta is a writer and researcher from Sialkot. Her work focuses largely on experiences of
womanhood in Pakistan. She is currently finishing her Liberal
Arts degree at Beaconhouse National University, Lahore.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
CHOTI AURAT
by
Irta Usman
A compelling yet amusing narrative about a young woman navigating the expectations and limitations imposed by the complexities of having an arranged marriage
WHAT THE JUDGES SAID
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I found this strange and truefeeling and original. It doesn't shy away from the contradictions inherent in sisterly solidarity, and manages to be simultaneously moving and funny. - SV
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An honest portrayal of the complexities of arranged marriage, the societal pressures faced by women, and the nuanced emotional landscape of longing and resistance ... The use of language is powerful ... and it effectively captures the juxtaposition between societal norms and personal yearning. - SJ
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Yet another piece on marital pressures, but this one has humour. There were a couple of places where I actually did laugh out loud … Refreshing. - HZ
Fatima is a Teaching Fellow at Information Technology University of the Punjab (ITU) where she has taught Writing, World Literatures and Criminology. She has written short stories for The Desi Collective and nonfiction for Qafiyah Review.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
DUPATTA
by
Fatima Hasan
An examination of the dupatta as something so much more than simply a dhai gaz ka kapra.
WHAT THE JUDGES SAID
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A nuanced exploration of the dupatta as both a symbol of cultural identity and a marker of societal expectations, while also highlighting its futility in liberating women from those very constraints - SJ
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The writer made me think about my relationship with the ubiquitous dupatta; to all the women in my life tied together by this cloth. Beautifully descriptive and evocative - I liked it more with every reading - MR
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​This essay weaves together big ideas and home truths as it explores the duality of the dupatta, both superficial and profound. The author has a voice I'd like to spend more time with. - SV
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I liked the idea of examining the dupatta and its importance to Pakistani women … Charming. - VS
Laila is a poet and writer based in London. The thematic focus of her writing is racial justice, community building and intersectional feminism. Her pamphlet titled ‘White Fragility in Aid Spaces’ was published by FEM Press. She is a recipient of the POCC Artist Residency, which saw her poetry displayed across billboards in the UK.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
SOFTENING THE STEEL IN MY SPINE
by
Laila Ghaffar
A deeply reflective exploration of personal and political struggles told in a well-crafted, engaging and experimental manner.
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WHAT THE JUDGES SAID
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I found this interesting because it addressed the wider world outside of the domestic concerns of marriage, the male gaze etc. One of the few pieces in the competition to attempt this. - HZ
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A deeply reflective and powerful exploration of personal and political struggles. Its craft and experimental nature are engaging. - SJ
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​The author flows through abstract ideas but studs them with concretely realised artefacts of personal history. I admired the way she brings her material in and out of sharp focus as she explores the possibility of tenderness in a harsh world. - SV
Maliha is a writer and editor from Karachi. Her work has appeared in an anthology of essays published by Routledge as well as in Express Tribune, The New Arab, Tint Journal, amongst others. She is currently working on her first book about living in India as a Pakistani woman.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
WALKING DAYDREAMS
by
Maliha Khan
A powerful portrayal of resilience and self-discovery through the simple yet profound act of walking.
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WHAT THE JUDGES SAID​​
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The story captures the protagonist's struggles against cultural norms and societal expectations, while painting vivid imagery of different cities that evoke a sense of freedom, identity, and aspiration ... The narrative's strength lies in its ability to blend personal reflection with broader themes of gender, mobility, and independence, making it deeply relatable and inspiring for readers. - SJ
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I liked the author's insight that to be a woman in a public space you have to move with purpose and determination at all times to avoid potentially dangerous scrutiny: flanerie and meandering strolls are not an option. - SV