TWS Literary Excellence Award

Past Winners.

Celebrating the writers recognised in each cycle of the TWS Literary Excellence Award, Pakistan’s most prestigious writing competition. Meet the voices our judges chose.

Cycles judged 3 Writers honoured 44 Most recent cycle July 2026
Jump to a cycle
July 2026March 2026December 2025

July 2026

Announced 31 July 2026 15 writers honoured
First place · Winner

Yusra Amjad

Against Translation

TWS Award
Second place 02

Maaz Ahmed

Bhalo Bashen

Third place 03

Xindagi Zahra Jafri

Rafu

Runners-up
Hamna Hamid ShahThe Pond
Kashaf Ud Duja AliRoot Canal In Three Acts
Zoya Ahmedپیار کی شئے ہے (Pyar Ki Shai Hai)
Maryam JahanzaibThe Midden
Aeman AbbasiThe Unburied
Heyyam ShahNaadnama
Asma WaqasTirzah
Zaineb SiddiqWhat My Hands Know
Dua FatimaThe Unwritten
Aleena TahirBodies, Duties and Dutiful Bodies
Salwa Jabbarمکی ماؤس (Micky Maus)
Abeera LatifUntouched

March 2026

Announced 4 April 2026 16 writers honoured
First place · Winner

Maryam Malik

In the Name of Love

TWS Award
Second place 02

Sidra Nisar

The Geography of Empathy

Third place · Joint 03

Hani Raza Jaffery

مردانہ کمزوری

Aeman Abbasi

The Weight of the Turban

Runners-up
Fari TahirThreadbare
Saliha ImranBurn Me Whole
Maleeha OmarUnravelling Silk
Izza Khan NiaziSunflowers by the Grave
Adeena MubeenCheeni
Faizan Aslam SoofiLoving and living in the Islamic Republic
Hania SaadNo Parking Available
Mahiba ShahbazIf I Had Been Born a Son
Alishba AsifRecipe as Old as Time
Reem KhanNashedi
Tahoor BariWhat Shoes to Wear to Your Next Funeral
Arun Lal PariharThe Seven Letters Across India

December 2025

Announced 27 December 2025 13 writers honoured
First place · Winner

Reem Arshad Khan

Sparrow

TWS Award
Second place 02

Hussain Aamir

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Third place 03

Izza Khan Niazi

Gudiya

Runners-up
Iman ShehryarDesired, Not Known
Sidra NisarThe Work Hair Does
Arsh BibiThe Stolen Future
Sana NoorThe Failure of Austerity
Eman RehmanThe Constitution of the Mutilated Landscapist
Alishba AsifAnatomy Of An Onion
Mahru Hasan SyedWaiting Room
Noor-E-RabiThe Cycle Repeats
Adenah FurquanLawn Fever
Jaza SultanThe Flame and The Verse
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