What is ZERO POINT?
Formerly known as Pestān Stories, ZERO POINT is inspired by the largest interchange in South Asia: a cloverleaf interchange in my hometown, Islamabad, with the same name. I also took inspiration from Nawal El Saadawi's "Woman At Point Zero," a seminal text on the chronic trauma experienced by women and their bodies. It is also the point on a scale that denotes zero and from which positive and negative readings can be made... Which I think says a lot on its own. 

This newsletter serves to act as interchange for critical theory and my understandings on class, social justice, women's trauma, healing, and South Asia.

What should I expect?
Gems in your inbox. Paid subscribers will get exclusive access to new content and if they opt-in for it, regular love letters from me in your physical mailboxes.

Why should I pay?
Most of my work is available on the internet for free. My energy and time is valuable though, and I don't believe anyone's labour should be uncompensated. It's a precarious world for brown women, so contributions are much appreciated.

ZERO POINT is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a subscriber.

Who are you?
I'm a Pakistan-Canadian multidisciplinary artist. I'm based in Tiohtià:ke/Montréal and before that I lived in Toronto for over eight years. I grew up in the capital of Pakistan, Islamabad, and I spent an equal amount of my childhood in Dubai, UAE. I love jasmine flowers, my cat Lulu, and the colour purple. I am an Aquarius sun, Cancer moon and Virgo rising baby who loves bodies of water (especially the sea) and the glorious Moon. Follow me on Instagram to learn more about my daily life.

Currently, I organize with Rang Collective, a Tiohtià:ke/­Montréal-based collective for the arts of South Asia, founded in 2021. The Collective aims to promote dialogue around and awareness of social issues affecting marginalised South Asian & South Asian-adjacent communities.


Writing
I have been writing publicly since 2016, when an essay I wrote for VICE went viral and it changed my life. I received book deals, interviews with major publications, and a lot of unwarranted attention. My writing has historically focused on the plight and wonder of brown women in the diaspora and back home as well. I love being a woman <3 and I invite you to join me on my Substack journey.

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an interchange of theory and thought on social justice, feminism, healing trauma, and South Asia.

People

Zahra Haider is a Pakistani-Canadian writer who was raised between Pakistan and the UAE. She studied Anthropology and Women's Studies at York University and is now based in Montréal.