ISLAMABAD (PEN) : The U.S. Mission to Pakistan, in collaboration with Urban Word, held a vibrant showcase at the Alhamra Arts Center to celebrate the launch of Pakistan’s first-ever Youth Poet Laureate program.
From a pool of 19 talented finalists, two exceptional young poets—one writing in English and the other in Urdu—were honored as the inaugural Pakistan Youth Poets Laureate during the event. These winners will have the incredible opportunity to perform their poetry at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., in April 2025. The event also featured the launch of an anthology titled Jashn, showcasing the poetry of all finalists.
This innovative initiative, created by Urban Word—an award-winning youth literary arts organization that introduced the National Youth Poet Laureate Program in the United States in 2008—marks the first of its kind internationally. The U.S.-funded program, which began in February 2023, invited Pakistani writers aged 16-25 to submit original poems in either English or Urdu. The response was overwhelming, with over 1,400 submissions from across the country. A panel of judges then selected ten poets in each language for this inaugural cohort.
Over the past five months, the finalists received mentorship from award-winning poets and artists, culminating in the submission of full poetry portfolios that were evaluated by leaders from Pakistan’s arts and literary community.
Sandeep Paul, Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Lahore, expressed his admiration for the young poets, saying, “I’m deeply impressed by these remarkable and inventive individuals who share their unique perspectives through their art. I hope they inspire more young Pakistanis to voice their own stories.”
Michael Cirelli, founder of Urban Word, emphasized the collaborative spirit of the initiative: “We are grateful for the strong partnership with the U.S. Embassy, consulates across Pakistan, and numerous local organizations, colleges, and poets. We’re excited to celebrate the next generation of poets and writers, whose work is timely, visionary, and more necessary than ever.”
Project Director Sara Zaidi echoed this enthusiasm, stating, “There is incredible talent in Pakistan, and this celebration shines a light on the next generation of torchbearers who will carry forward both the rich poetic tradition and innovative spirit of the country.”
