Karachi, February 2, 2026—Pakistan Japan Cultural Association Sindh, under the auspices of the Consulate General of Japan in Karachi and in collaboration with the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, organized the 38th Annual Urdu Haiku Mushaira on Saturday evening, January 31, 2026. The event was held at Haseena Moin Hall, Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi.
The Mushaira was coordinated by Ms. Wazahat Naseem. It was presided over by Mr. Firasat Rizvi, while the Honourable Consul General of Japan in Karachi graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.
The proceedings began with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran by Mr. Saleem Ahmed, General Secretary of PJCA Sindh. This was followed by the welcome address delivered by Mr. Azmat Ataka, First Vice President of PJCA Sindh. In his speech, Mr. Ataka thanked the Honourable Consul General of Japan for his continued patronage and support for cultural and literary activities. He also expressed his gratitude to Mr. Muhammad Ahmed Shah, President of the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, for his consistent cooperation and generous support in organizing PJCA events. Mr. Ataka further thanked Mr. Firasat Rizvi for presiding over the Mushaira. Mr. Azmat Ataka also paid special thanks to Ms. Sadia Rashid, President of Hamdard Group, for generously providing gift hampers for all the participating poets. He acknowledged the valuable support of Hamdard Group, which contributed greatly to the success of the event.
Apart from the president of the Mushaira, Mr. Firasat Rizvi, around twenty-one poets participated in the Mushaira. The poets who presented their haiku, in alphabetical order, were Dr. Abda Ghanghro, Afzal Hazarvi, Hameeda Kashish, Dr. Jamal Naqvi, Kazunori Matsuda, Khalida Uzma, Naseem Nazish, Rubina Tahseen Bina, Dr. Saeed Ahmed Saadi, Sarwar Shamal, Seher Ali, Shah Fahad, Shahabuddin Shahab, Shahida Israr, Shahzad Niaz, Shair Ali Shair, Sohail Ahmed Siddiqui, Syed Meraj Jami, Wazahat Naseem, Yasmeen Yas, and Zahid Hussain Zahid Jauhri.
At the conclusion of the Mushaira, the President of the Mushaira, Mr. Firasat Rizvi, delivered his presidential address and also presented his haiku. The event was well attended by poets, literary figures, and admirers of Urdu haiku and was appreciated for its smooth organization and rich literary content.
