ZHR Prize calls for submissions

Uzma Aslam Khan, Ailah Ahmed and Omar Shahid Hamid on jury

The Zeenat Haroon Writing Prize for Women is sending out a call for submissions. This year’s category is ‘Short Fiction’. Writers are invited to submit short stories of up to 3,000 words on any subject or theme that uses Pakistan as a canvas or location and focuses on the country’s culture and society.

Entries open on April 1st and close on June 30th. The competition is open to all women of Pakistani nationality or Pakistani heritage over the age of 18 and, as always, the judges will be looking for writing with a distinct voice. The competition carries a cash award of Rs.100,000.

This year’s judges panel consists of distinguished novelists Uzma Aslam Khan (Trespassing, Thinner Than Skin, The Miraculous True History of Nomi Ali) and Omar Shahid Hamid (The Prisoner, The Fix, The Election) as well as eminent Publishing Director at Hutchinson Heinemann, Penguin Random House, Ailah Ahmed (publishing authors such as Chigozie Obioma and Lauren Goff and publications such as the upcoming We Are Not Numbers: The Voices of Gaza’s Youth).

Full details on how to enter and comprehensive competition rules can be found on the website www.zhrwritingprize.com. For media enquiries: info@zhrwritingprize.com

Published in Dawn, Books & Authors, March 30th, 2025