The Story Behind the Writer’s Lab
Coming from an educational background that thrived on creativity and intellectual inquiry to being thrust in a corporate culture that’s exclusively mechanical and outcome-oriented, this startup is an attempt to reclaim the academic and literary culture of Pakistan, and beyond. Through Writer’s Lab, we’re offering academic and editorial services that promise clarity, curiosity, playfulness and lifelong learning to students from high-school/matric to undergraduate and graduate levels. Our aim is to not only enhance desired academic and literary outcomes but also improve critical thinking in the wider community.
Sumaya Makhdoom
Instructor, Writer’s Lab Editor, RBTL
A Pakistani academic with 10+ years of research and writing experience. Her teaching roles have carried forward this research oriented approach, guiding and inspiring high quality work from students primarily at Forman Christian College University. Beyond her academic life, Sumaya is an avid non-fiction reader, an independent researcher published by Routledge publishers, and a translator of South Asian culinary history. Her work has been commissioned by Prof. Siobhan Lambert Hurley, from the University of Sheffield. She is also a poet writing about a myriad of personal and cultural identity issues that never resolve. Her work can be found on Desi Writers Lounge, Entropy Magazine and her Substack
Umar Hashmi
Instructor, Writer’s Lab Co-editor, RBTL
An essayist, researcher, and technical writer-editor based in Lahore. He has an undergraduate degree in History from Forman Christian College University (2021) and worked as a technical content editor in the edtech startup Educative for 3.5 years (2021–2025). Having worked in various technical and non-technical roles since 2018, his breadth of professional experience over 7 years makes him a versatile wordcel.
His serious, longform work is on Substack and Read Between The Lines. When he’s not reading at least 5 different books simultaneously, he’s posting about his day and life on his eccentric Instagram profile, working out, running, cycling, or pontificating about corporate work culture in Pakistan.
Taiba Aslam
Web Developer
A web designer and digital designer with hands-on experience creating websites and visual content for clients.She currently serves as the Creative Design Lead for Writers Lab and Read Between the Lines, where she collaborates closely with the editors to design digital assets, curate visual identities, and shape engaging user experiences.
Hero Illustration, Magazine Cover & Issue-I Feature Illustration credits:
Maaz Jan, @deconstruction_station on Instagram