An evening of poetry and celebration was presented by Mishal Khan recently. As a tribute to two cherished figures of Urdu literature: the birthday celebration of senior poet Anwar Shaoor, and a special honouring of Ambreen Haseeb Amber for receiving the prestigious Pride of Performance Award

The event was presided over by Anwar Shaoor himself, whose presence was an inspiration for the audience present on the occasion. A select group of poets and poetesses shared their work, adding colour and emotion to the night. The poetic session flowed unhindered under the skilled moderation of Khalilullah Farooqui, a well-known voice from radio and media. The star of the evening, poet Anwar Shaoor’s poetry was the highlight of the literary event.

Mehreen Ilahi curator of Majmua The Art Gallery organized a calligraphic exhibition titled Nafs, showcasing the works of emerging artists. Participating artists included Erum Hameed, Iffah Sheikh, Zahir Shah, Huma Tajdar, Umaima Masood, Fatima Arzoo Hassan, Syed Ali Sheikh and Mian Asif.

The calligraphy featured in the exhibition was done in both traditional Nastaleeq and modern, contemporary styles. The artists depicted Allah’s name and verses from the Quran in their works, in their own styles. Fatima Arzoo Hassan’s abstract calligraphy was a standout piece—her textured canvas, featuring Allah impeccably written in white against interplay of blue and white hues, was visually captivating.

The grand finale of 2nd Life Pakistan 2.0 — a national climate innovation programme saw six standout teams that were awarded cash prizes totaling PKR 2.625 million to further develop and scale their projects. These included winners from both the growth and idea stages of the competition.

Hosted by SEED Ventures in collaboration with Unilever Pakistan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Pakistan serving as the Secretariat for the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP), the event marked the conclusion of a six-month journey into circular economy entrepreneurship, spotlighting startups that view waste not as a problem but as a possibility. The programme has redefined how entrepreneurship can contribute to climate resilience, demonstrating that circularity is not just a concept; it is a practical path to a cleaner, stronger, and more inclusive Pakistan.

The showcase brought together climate-focused startups, policymakers, and sustainability leaders to highlight innovative solutions for rethinking waste. With support through mentorship and business development, over 30 young ventures from across Pakistan turned environmental challenges into scalable, impact-driven businesses, tackling everything from e-waste and textiles to food scraps and agri by-products.

Lance Domm, British Deputy High Commissioner, shared his optimism during the event, stating, “It is inspiring to see how young Pakistanis are creating practical, scalable solutions to environmental challenges.”