Pakistan In Pictures

Pakistani Christians attend Christmas prayers at the St. Peter's church in the Pakistani city of Karachi on late December 24, 2011. The newly built St. Peter's Church which accommodate up to 5,000 worshipers at a time is Pakistan's biggest church and opened to the public on its first mass held at 12 am on Christmas Day. The church is built in the heart of Azam Basti, a shanty settlement where approximately 8,000 Christians families live. PHOTO : AFP

A woman prays while attending a Christmas mass at St. Anthony's Church in Lahore December 25, 2011. PHOTO : REUTERS

A mountaineer braving the snows of Karakorams

The Karakorams are home to the highest concentration of peaks over 8 kms in height to be found anywhere on earth, including K2, the second highest peak of the world (8,611 m).
The range is about 500 km in length, and is the most heavily glaciated part of the world outside the polar regions. The Karakorams are bounded on the northeast by the edge of the Tibetan Plateau, and on the north by the Pamir Mountains. The southern boundary of the Karakoram is formed, west to east, by the Gilgit, Indus, and Shyok Rivers, which separate the range from the northwestern end of the Himalayas. By Tayyab Mir, Flickr

Apartments near the Clifton Beach, Karachi

A winter morning in Lahore taken along the Punjab University part of the Lahore Canal.

Sakura, the Japanese eatery, launches in Lahore.
Hira and Sana. PHOTO : COURTESY SAVVY PR AND EVENTS

Fatima, 21, a supporter of the political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf looks up as she attends a rally in Karachi December 25, 2011. PHOTO: REUTERS

Pakistan In Pictures

Lahore Fort. The origins of Lahore Fort are obscure and are traditionally based on various myths. However, during the excavation carried out in 1959 by the Department of Archaeology, in front of Diwan-e-Aam, a gold coin of Mahmood of Ghazni dated A.H. 416 (1025 A.D.) was found at a depth of 7.62 metres from the level of the lawns. Cultural layers continued to a further depth of 5 metres, giving strong indications that people had lived here, long before the conquest of Lahore by Mahmood in 1021 A.D. Further mention of the fort is traceable to Shahab-ud-din Muhammad Ghuri's successive invasions of Lahore from 1180 to 1186 A.D.

“Arror Rock” [near Rohri in Sindh]. The shape of rock was caused by unknown natural forces.
There is also a Shrine on the top. In France,there is a famous similar shaped rock on sea shore caused by huge water waves but in the middle of barren Arror –such a shape is an Amazing Wonder.

Makran Coastal Highway ,the present day Makran derived its name from Maka, a satrap of Achaemenid Empire. Maka was an important early eastern satrapy of Cyrus the Great, founder of the Achaemenid Empire.

Uli Biaho Tower. It is a peak near Trango Towers and Baltoro Glacier in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. It consists of two main peaks, Uli Biaho Tower (listed by Roskelley as 19,957 feet, and by Kopold as 6109 m (20,058 feet)); and Uli Biaho Peak (Kopold: 6417 m), which as of 2006 was unclimbed

Visitors taking keen interest in a calligraphic exhibition organised by Rawalpindi Arts Council in connection with Muharram-ul-Haram. PHOTO: EXPRESS TRIBUNE /MUHAMMAD JAVAID

Alyzeh, Sadia, Saim and Amna. film Bol screening at Cinestar, Lahore. PHOTO: EXPRESS TRIBUNE

The Convent of Jesus and Mary, Murree is a girl’s school located in Murree, Punjab. It was founded in 1818, by a French woman named Claudine Thévenet.

 
Shangrila Lake or Lower Kachura Lake is a part of the Shangrila resort located at a drive of about 20 minutes from Skardu (nearly 2,500 m or 8,200 feet) town. It is a popular tourist destination, and has a unique restaurant that is built on the fuselage of an aircraft that had crashed nearby.

Ghizer is a District of Gilgit Division and is northernmost part of the Northern Areas of Pakistan. Its main centric town is Gakuch. Ghizer is also an intersection between Gilgit and Chitral (which are connected via Shandur Pass). Ghizer is a multi cultural district and three main languages are spoken Khowar, Shina and Burushaski. Also a few Wakhi speakers are there in Ishkoman. Ghizer offers attractive beauty and is renowned for trekking & trout fishing.

River Ghizer

Fashion designer claims he is ‘designing for a cause’. PHOTO-PUBLICITY

LAHORE: Mohsin Ali’s eclectic, brooding collection, which dexterously combined elements of the subaltern Hazara culture and married it to their vagabond state, made fashion insiders giddy with a new prospect of a creative maverick in their midst and delighted audiences with its unique desi bohemian aesthetic.

  Amina Naeem launches her clothing-line Swank in Lahore

Guest at Swank’s opening. PHOTO : COURTESY QYT EVENTS

Pakistan In Pictures

 

Great Bath, Moenjodaro World Heritage Site

The Great Bath is part of the remains of 5,000 years old Indus Valley Civilization at Mohenjo-daro. It is located on western mound (citadel area).

The Great Bath measures 11.88 meters x 7.01 meters, and has a maximum depth of 2.43 meters. Two wide staircases, one from the north and one from the south, served as the entry to the structure. The Great Bath is built of fine baked bricks. It could have been a place for ritual bathing or religious ceremonies. By Tayyab Mir, Flickr

Lake Saiful Muluk

Lake Saiful Muluk is located at the northern end of the Kaghan Valley near Naran. It is in the north east of Mansehra District in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. At an altitude of 3,224 m (10,578 feet) above sea level it is amongst one of the highest lakes in Pakistan.

  Karachi coast Skyline from oyster rocks. photos by fsaeed1975, Panoramio

Meet Baji, Rani and Munna in Sim Sim Hamara

Sim Sim Hamara is the Pakistani adaptation of the engaging educational children's program Sesame Street.

  Sesame Street character Elmo (L) along with locally developed puppet characters Rani (2nd L) and Munna (C). PHOTO: REUTERS

A locally developed puppet named Baji is seen performing at the launching ceremony of the Pakistani version of Sesame Street called "Sim Sim Hamara". PHOTO: REUTERS

  American Consulate General and the production team poses for a group photo with Sesame Street. PHOTO: REUTERS

Welcome to the Fashion Pakistan Lounge

Ruby Shakel hosts a 3-day event at the Fashion Pakistan Lounge in Lahore

Amna, Mariam, Saim and Aliha. PHOTO : COURTESY SAVVY PR & EVENTS

Pakistan In Pictures

 

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani appointed liberal lawmaker and former information minister Sherry Rehman as the country's new ambassador to the United States.

 

Cold Desert of Skardu in Pakistan.

This is one of the most beautiful tourist’s attractions of Northern areas of Pakistan. There are huge sand plains in Skardu. In the background you can see snow covered mountains. This is also the highest desert of the world.

 

One of the most exquisite buildings in the old city of Lahore, near Mori Gate: this is now the Victoria Girls High School but was the Haveli of Nau Nihal Singh, built by Ranjit Singh in 1838 to celebrate his grandson's marriage.

Rohri-Quetta Train Track

This is an amazing view of a tunnel and bridge over a river on the railway track from "Rohri to Quetta". This track passes through 20 tunnels and over 368 bridges.
It's the longest Railway gradient of world, and most scenic Railway ride of Asia. Source: Flickr

Volkswagen Club of Pakistan and Vintage & Classic Car Club of Pakistan rolled out their cars in Islamabad.

Visitors taking keen interest in old cars at a show of Volkswagen, Vintage and classic cars organised by the Volkswagen Club of Pakistan (VWCOP) and Vintage & Classic Car Club of Pakistan (VCCCP) at F-9 Park on Thursday. PHOTO : MUHAMMAD JAVAID/ EXPRESS TRIBUNE

A 1959 Cadillac Fleetwood on display at a vintage car show in Islamabad on Thursday November 24, 2011. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD JAVAID/ EXPRESS TRIBUNE

A 1938 Chrysler on display at a show of Volkswagen, Vintage and classic cars organized by the Volkswagen Club of Pakistan (VWCOP) and Vintage & Classic Car Club of Pakistan (VCCCP) at F-9 Park Islamabad. PHOTO : MUHAMMAD JAVAID/ EXPRESS TRIBUNE

Pakistan In Pictures

Karachi: The Sindh High Court.

Palas Valley, Kohistan

Palas valley is located in Kohistan District, on the left bank of the river Indus. It is bounded on the north and north-east by Jalkot valley, on the east by Kaghan, on the south by Allai and on the West by the river Indus.

Stone carved panel from Taxila.

Taxila is situated about 32 km (20 mi) northwest of Islamabad Capital Territory and Rawalpindi in Panjab; just off the Grand Trunk Road. Taxila lies 549 metres (1,801 ft) above sea level.

The city dates back to the Gandhara period and contains the ruins of the Gandhāran city of Takṣaśilā which was an important Hindu and Buddhist centre. Takṣaśilā is reputed to derive its name from Takṣa, who was the great grandson of Bharata, the brother of Rama.^[1]

Historically, Takṣaśilā lay at the crossroads of three major trade routes:

1. The uttarāpatha, the northern road—the later Grand Trunk or GT Road — the royal road which connected Gandhara in the west to the kingdom of Magadha and its capital Pāṭaliputra in the Ganges valley in the east.
2. The northwestern route through Bactria, Kāpiśa, and Puṣkalāvatī.
3. The Sindu (English: Indus river) route from Kashmir and Central Asia, via Śri nagara, Mansehra, and the Haripur valley^[2] across the Khunjerab pass to the Silk Road in the north to the Indian Ocean in the south. The Khunjerab passes between Kashmir and Xinjiang—the current Karakoram highway—and was traversed in antiquity.

A Pakistani girl watches the photographer, while standing on the muddy path of a slum during a rain day, on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan, on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

Cash’n’Carry Store organises Family Fiesta in Lahore:

  Alyzeh and Fia. PHOTO : COURTESY BILAL MUKHTAR EVENTS & PR

Natasha and Babloo. PHOTO : COURTESY BILAL MUKHTAR EVENTS & PR

Sara Gillani and Bilal Mukhtar. PHOTO : COURTESY BILAL MUKHTAR EVENTS & PR

Pakistan In Pictures

KARACHI: Country’s largest Catholic church opens (November 16, 2011  ) in Karachi’s Akhtar Colony. Saint Peter’s Church has a capaci­ty for 5,000 and will cater to 3,800 famili­es. By Samia Saleem. The Express Tribune

Hindu devotees climb towards the crater of a mud volcano to perform a ritual offering of coconuts during a pilgrimage to the Shri Hinglaj Mata Temple in Pakistan's Balochistan province, on April 24, 2011. Thousands from Pakistan and India take part in the annual four-day pilgrimage to the temple, which is a revered site for Hindus. (Reuters/Akhtar Soomro)

KARACHI: Spring blooms at the Mohatta Palace gives it a colorful look.

In 1927, Shiv Rattan Mohatta, a successfull Marwari entrepreneur, commissioned a palatial house in the affluent seaside neighbourhood of Clifton. Mohatta had made his fortune as a ship chandler and trader. The architect commissioned for his palace, Agha Ahmed Hussain, was one of the first Muslim architects of India and had come from Jaipur to take up an assignment as chief surveyor for the Karachi Muncipality. Agha Hussain Ahmed designed a number of buildings in Karachi but Mohatta Palace was to prove the coup de maitre of his professional career. Working in a Mughal revival style with a combination of locally available yellow Gizri and pink stone from Jodhpur, he sought to recreate the Anglo Moghal palaces of the Rajput princes.

  A Sikh devotee from India prays during the 542nd birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev at Nankana Sahib, some 75 kms west of Lahore, on November 10, 2011. Sikh pilgrims from different parts of the world attended the religious rituals at the shrine at Nankana Sahib, where the founder of the Sikh faith was born in 1469. PHOTO: AFP

A child rests on a pile of oranges at a fruit market in Peshawar, on March 10, 2011. (Reuters/Fayaz Aziz)

Pakistan In Pictures

 

Quaid-e-Azam Library, Lahore

Nushki Desert, Balochistan

 

A local man skis on a mountain during a four-day skiing competition at the Malam Jabba resort, 300 kilometers (190 miles) northwest of the capital Islamabad in the Swat Valley, on March 20, 2011. The competition made it seem incredible that just a few years ago Taliban fanatics blew up the ski lift, set fire to the nearby hotel, turned Malam Jabba into a training ground and plotted to bring down the government. (A. Majeed/AFP/Getty Images)

A devotee prays while standing in front of a bonfire at the shrine of Muslim saint Madhu Shah Lal Hussain in Lahore, on March 26, 2011. Hundreds of devotees are attending a three-day annual festival known as the festival of lamps to pay homage to the 16th century saint. (Reuters/Mohsin Raza)

 

Noodle House launches in Lahore. Guests at the launch of Noodle House (Ursala and Asif Kamal   ),PHOTO : COURTESY SAVVY PR

Guests at the launch of Noodle House (Rubab). PHOTO : COURTESY SAVVY PR