BackIchra, Lahore
Kitab
Ghar
A citizen-funded free public library and feminist collective in the heart of Lahore. Open 7 days a week.
2+
Years Open
2,000+
Books
7 days
A Week
Our Mission
Creating free public spaces through feminist-led safe spaces for learning, arts, and activism.
Kitab Ghar envisions creating free public spaces more accessible to all communities in a country bereft of safe spaces. The aim is to inspire citizen-led initiatives, fostering steady social transformation through the power of feminist-led safe spaces for learning, arts, and activism.
The space functions as a home for local students, and women/trans artists regularly engage with it to host recruitment meetings. It is a dynamic hub offering a free library with 2,000+ books and study resources, a community space with high-speed internet, vibrant art installations, and diverse courses and workshops.
The Reading Room — open 11 AM to 8 PM, every day
My Contribution
Co-curator, editor, and operations lead.
I trained non-technical staff and interns using simple visual SOPs so they could run operations, communications, and event support independently. Concurrently, I liaised with many creatives to curate programming, organize workshops, gigs, and cultural events, and lead outreach that delivered concrete results.
I co-curated and edited the Climate Change Anthology (Dhalta Suraj), secured a major literary festival showcase, and distributed it across leading universities and cultural centers.
I grew marketing campaigns and grew Instagram through consistent content cadence and event promotion. I also helped organize art workshops, film screenings, and cultural events that brought the community together.
Film Screening Night
Ghazal Night with Farheen Raza Jaffry
Publications
Two anthologies. Two years.
Anthology #002 · 2023
Dhalta Suraj
Bilingual collection of contemporary political writings on climate change and environmental degradation in Pakistan. Distributed across leading universities and cultural centers. All proceeds benefit Kitab Ghar.
View Book
Anthology #001 · 2022
Parha Likha Pakistan
The first-ever anthology of Urdu essays published by Kitab Ghar — a thought-provoking collection that aims to launch a 21st-century movement of politically intellectual writing. Features contributions from leading Pakistani writers and intellectuals.
Seminar Series
Partition Literature
A seminar-styled course on the cultural memory of Partition in South Asian literature. Instructed by Hassan Qadeer Butt. Financial aid available.
Greatest Victories
What we built together
Anthology #001
Parha Likha Pakistan
First-ever anthology of Urdu essays — a thought-provoking collection of political and intellectual writing
Anthology #002
Dhalta Suraj
Bilingual writings on climate change. Distributed across leading universities and cultural centers in Pakistan
Annual Lit Fest
Adbi Mela
Two annual literary festivals celebrating citizen-funded culture, hosting distinguished writers and activists
Summer School
Projects For Peace
Political education through Harsukh’s faculty — an intensive 8-week freedom summer school program
Showcase
Women in Film
Hosted works by Sana Jafri and Mahnoor Zaidi, spotlighting women filmmakers and visual artists
Workshops
Alternative Education
Storytelling, animal rights, filmmaking, monoprinting — including flood relief fundraising through theatre
The Space
Where it all happens
Support
Every copy sold keeps a free public library open.
All proceeds from Dhalta Suraj go directly to Kitab Ghar — keeping the doors open and the books free.