We’re incredibly proud to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our talented students and alumni at the inaugural Pakistan Youth Poet Laureate event! 🎉 From a pool of 1,400 submissions, four LUMS students and graduates were honored as finalists and runners-up:

Zain ul Abidin Khan Alizai (Political Science, Batch ‘24) was runner-up in the English poetry category for his poem, “Cradling the face of the world in my hands,” a profound reflection on understanding the world through the language of desire. ✍️

Sherdil Awais Rashid (Sophomore) was also runner-up in the English category, with his work exploring the physical relationship one develops with poetry, encouraging readers to find their own meaning within his words. 📖

Rumaisa Maryam Samir (Sophomore) was a finalist with her poem “The Lights Ask Us to Fix the Country,” addressing intergenerational trauma, displacement, and the complexities of identity. 🌍

Ayesha Owais, a finalist and participant of the LUMS Young Writers Workshop, presented her poem on themes of nostalgia, childhood, and the realization of one’s limitations. 🎤

We also extend our congratulations to faculty members Tom Edward Sewel and Younis Bin Azeem from the English Department, whose mentorship was instrumental in guiding these students towards success. 👏

We’re incredibly proud of these talented individuals for representing LUMS at this prestigious event and for their outstanding contributions to the world of poetry! 🌟