Sameena Nazir

Sameena Nazir is a Karachi‑based writer, actor, and theatre practitioner. A master’s graduate in entomology and a theatre graduate from NAPA, she has been acting, writing, teaching, and performing since 2008. Known for her dramatic literary readings, she has launched her books and appeared as a panelist at KLF, ILF, Ayaz Melo, Aalmi Urdu Conference, Lahooti Melo, and Jashn‑e‑Rekhta. A dynamic new voice in Urdu fiction, Sameena’s stories have long been shaped in her creative world before formally entering print. Her debut collection Kallo (Maktaba‑e‑Daniyal, 2021) gained immediate recognition; its title story was translated internationally and recently won the Muzi Award (2024). The book has also been published in English by Hachette. Her story Beetle Leaf was selected for a Bangladesh anthology marking 70 years since partition. As a playwright, she has written and directed numerous plays across Pakistan and at NAPA. Her groundbreaking debut novel Siyah Heerey (2023)—the first Urdu novel set in Africa—was launched at Jashn‑e‑Rekhta Dubai (2024). Her upcoming collection Jazoo Bhayya is forthcoming from Book Corner, Jhelum (2025). She currently teaches storytelling, acting, and scriptwriting at NAPA, Karachi.