The Peshawar Review aims to provide a platform where, in collaboration with old-timers, new writers learn by doing as they cut their teeth on close reading, creative writing, critical reviewing, and sharp commentary. We hope to nurture a new cohort of perceptive individuals and allow TPR to grow with them and discover its niche. We want this to be an organic and indigenous process with the platform evolving in response to the nourishment it draws from its South Asian roots.
Why Peshawar?
Most of the core team has associations with the city and wants to locate the initiative in a place with emotional resonance. Peshawar lays claim to the most celebrated bazaar of storytellers in Pakistan, if not in the world, and we wish to revive that legacy in a modern form. It is an exciting challenge to begin from the margin and try and make it a centre of ideas.
What might we cover?
Anything that has to do with books, literature, arts, culture, and society. We expect to engage with the following:
Talking about books we like and have enjoyed.
Showcasing new prose, poetry, and translations.
Featuring long-form essays on issues of relevance.
Re-introducing forgotten classics.
Profiling individuals who have made meaningful contributions.
Hosting critical conversations around seminal ideas.
Connecting writers with an interest in South Asia.
How are we different?
At TPR we encourage writers to be part of their narratives. We will be talking about art and literature we have enjoyed, that has changed us in some way, or that we think is particularly relevant to our situation. This holds for non-fiction as well — we do entertain detached, impersonal writing. We want contributors to express themselves through their work making TPR more personal and relatable than most other reviews.
How often will we appear?
Following its launch on January 1, 2026, TPRs primary upload will be at the beginning of each month with the provision to add articles on a rolling basis when warranted.
Who are we?
At this time we have a six-member core team and a non-hierarchical organization in which all tasks are shared and assigned internally based on comparative advantage. The team, to which we intend to add, is comprised of the following members (in alphabetical order):
Aleesha Hamid: Currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Cambridge, Aleesha will handle the design and layout at TPR. She has a MSc/MA in Innovation Design Engineering from Imperial College London and Royal College of Art.
Anjum Altaf: Former Professor of Economics and Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Lahore University of Management Sciences. He is the author of two volumes of poetry inspired by Faiz and co-author of a book on Ghalib. Dr Altaf has a PhD from Stanford University.
Furqan Ali: A Peshawar-based financial sector researcher, Furqan writes on topics ranging from governance to literature for national newspapers and is the founder of the Dead Poets Society of Pakistan.
Kabir Altaf: A Hindustani classical vocalist, Kabir holds a B.A. (Dramatic Literature, Western Music) from George Washington University and an M.Mus. (Ethnomusicology) from SOAS, University of London. His book A New Explanation for the Decline of Hindustani Music in Pakistan was published in 2024.
Submissions
Please direct submissions to thepeshawarreview@gmail.com.
Submit one entry and not more than three poems at one time. Submissions should ideally be less than 5,000 words although we will waive that limit when warranted.
You may choose to submit a pitch of 2–3 paragraphs covering your idea and angle, why it matters to you personally, how you are part of the narrative, and what form it will take. Include a very brief bio and your timeline. We will get back to you within two weeks.
Compensation
At this time, we are unable to offer payment for contributions. We hope to do so as the magazine grows.
Support
We would appreciate your support if you subscribe to TPR and graduate to a paid subscription if you are happy with what you read.
