This remarkable collection of prose and poetry is the outcome of a writing competition on the topic of Women in Pakistan, organized by the Heinrich Bll Foundation, Goethe-Institut, and Oxford University Press in 2007 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Pakistans independence, the 50th anniversary of the Goethe-Institut in Pakistan, and the 90th anniversary of the birth of Heinrich Bll.

The fact that over 600 entries were received, posing a challenge for the highly distinguished jury to select only twenty, is a positive reflection of the innate talent and creativity of our younger generation and their awareness of social and cultural issues. Oxford University Press, Pakistan in publishing this anthology, has given a voice to the young writers expressing their thoughts on a topic of vital social importance.