Saturday, March 31, 2012

Mullah hulwai to khopra mithai, Karachi

Via Flickr:
No one in Karachi makes a better khopra mithai (coconut sweetmeat) than Mullah Hulwai at Nazimabad chowrangi, Karachi. Running rate is Rs.400 / Kg.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Portrait: Zikri young girl, Mubarak Village, Karachi

Unlike most Pakistanis, Baloch women dont observe purdah. Therefore, their girls and women wear beautiful attire. That is partly due to the fact that most Balochistan is dry and arid and the colourful clothes - just like in Thar and Cholistan deserts - diffuse the effect and enliven the environment.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Main entrance and pool Tooba masjid, Karachi

Via Flickr:
Tooba masjid is located at Korangi road, Defence Housing Society, phase 1, Karachi. It is popularly regarded as having the largest free standing dome mosque in the World, with a diameter of 236 feet. The construction was started in 1966 by Macdonald Layton and Constain construction firm and was finished in 1969. It has a capacity of around 30,000 worshipers of whom 5,000 can pack inside the dome structure.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Fishing near Sokhtarabad, Pakistan

(Photograph shot on 17th Sep, 2011).

After we left heavy-hearted our camp site called Sokhtarabad due to cold weather and ineptitude of our group leader, Mr. Tanwir, we were advised by this man, Mr. Azizullah, that we catch some local fish by hand. So we all gathered around and saw him catch lot of small fish. He appeared very expert in his trade and had lot of fun doing it. I was impressed. This is my favorite photograph of him.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Work: Herding goats along Rannikot walls, Sindh

Via Flickr:
Rannikot is a hot, dry place to be during 8 months. The only time one can easily visit this place is between November and Feburary, after which temperatures may shoot beyond 40 C at mid day. Goats are herded in and around this fort by the local Gabol tribe of Balochistan. Rannikot skirts the Kirthar range and is a protected National Monument.

Portraits: Gabol children, Rannikot

Via Flickr:
Approx. 500-600 villagers live within the formidable walls of Rannikot fort (also pronounced locally as Runnikot). These people belong to Baloch tribe of Gabol and are fiercely independent. And much unlike the Sindhis around them, their women usually do not perform any purdah (i.e., they don't cover their faces from strangers). In fact, purdah system is not enforced across Balochistan province, which lies just next to this area.