In partnership with the British Council, the Department of English hosted
the WOW 2025 Lahore Capsule
In partnership with the British Council, the Department of English at Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) hosted the WOW 2025 Lahore Capsule on December 13, 2024. The event kicked off with a welcome note by Dr Amara Khan, the Chair, Department of English, LCWU, followed by an introduction to the British Council by their representative Ms Fatima Malik. One of the curators of WOW 2025 Lahore Festival, Ms Raabia Qadir, introduced the WOW Pakistan festival, highlighting its mission to celebrate and amplify the voices of women across the country. She emphasized how WOW Pakistan, as part of the global Women of the World (WOW) Festival, serves as a powerful platform for germinating conversations about gender equality, empowerment, and social change. Moreover, a short film on digital safety by UNFPA was showcased, which followed a conversation led by Ms. Maryam Nawaz on the pressing issue of online safety for women in today’s digital age.
The event also featured a reading session by Ms Aisha Sajjad Khawaja – a seasoned academic and poet. The reading featured Urdu and English poems by Kishwar Naheed, Fahmida Raiz, Zehra Nigha and Aisha Sajjad herself, offering a glimpse into the fertile literary legacy of female writers in Pakistan. LCWU students performed a mime titled, “Mein Aurat Hoon”, which powerfully dramatized the various challenges faced by women in Pakistan, shedding light on their struggles and resilience. Additionally, a parallel workshop on “Crafting Winning Conversations” was facilitated by Dr Maryam Rab (the British Council representative in the association of commonwealth universities’ advisory group on gender). This hands-on workshop provided young women with the tools to communicate confidently, strengthening their voices in both personal and professional contexts. In closing, Prof Dr Uzma Quraishi, the Vice Chancellor LCWU, delivered the vote of thanks, expressing her appreciation for the successful collaboration and emphasizing her commitment to fostering future collaboration opportunities with the British Council and UNFPA.
She also highlighted the seven 'I's that LCWU is focusing on to prepare its graduates for their personal and professional lives and roles: Integrity, Inclusivity, Innovation, Interdisciplinary integration, Industry Linkages, Internationalization, and Impact!