The goal of this blog is to display the beauty of Pakistan mainly through photography. Unless stated, the photos are not my own. You may also submit posts at http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/submitTumblr (3.0; @pakistanpassion)http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljkfe8vO5j1qcv9s5o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>PAKISTAN:Faces of the Flood (by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/unicefpakistan/5206435876/in/photostream/">UNICEF Pakistan</a>) (please don’t remove captions, the purpose is to raise awareness about flood victims— thanks)</p>http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/4566965429http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/4566965429Tue, 12 Apr 2011 20:44:00 -0400<p>hey you should be honoured because this is the first “?” i’m responding to in ages. </p> <p>i like the post. i just wanted to say, about the lines (which, of course, you didn’t write):</p> <p>1. they are extremely negative, portraying Pakistan in a horrible light. (which is the trend, isn’t it?) 2. there is no sense of hope or grounding reality to counter-balance the bias.</p> <p>The rape victim? Rape happens EVERYWHERE and I mean EVERYWHERE. God. Look at the rape figures of any industrialized, developed country, let alone a third world developing country.</p> <p>Extremism? Again, everywhere. Go to England, there’s a whole different set of extremists out there, in USA, etc.</p> <p>It’s just disheartening seeing this kind of unnervingly pessimistic distortion, you know? Especially when you visit Pakistan and realize there’s so much more than what those headlines would have you believe!</p> <p>  BTW in islam you are supposed to help one and all…not be bigoted and prefer one tribe, or nation, or group, over another. so edhi’s quote makes sense either way. Human rights is right in line with what the Prophet brought down, and those “hard line mullahs”, and other extremists, are the ones who are degrading the very ideology they profess to uphold.</p> <p><span>Extremists aren’t “religious” only, there’s groups like MQM out to “cleanse” Pakistan from anyone who disagrees with them…. </span></p> <p><span> </span></p> <p>Here’s a famous saying of Muhammad (saw) </p> <p><span> </span></p> <p>Narrated Abdullah (r.a.): The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: <strong>“Ruined are the extremists.”</strong> He said it three times.</p> <p>[Sahih Muslim, Book 34, Number 6450]</p> <p>There are so many hadith and verses of the Quran i could quote on this, but this isn’t a religious blog. </p> <p>In pakistan we are taught (esp in islamiat class) a very strict strange kind of Islam which cuts out a lot of the actual islam sent to us by the Prophet (s.a.w.) and makes everything somehow severe, rough, and dogmatic. When you actually read or study Islamic history and traditions on your own, you realize that it is the diametric opposite of that bigoted, dogmatic version we are taught in our schools. </p> <p>A lot of the problems in Pakistan are caused due to poverty, corruption, ignorance/lack of education, and of course, the frustrated sense that politically, “we” are constantly under attack. We marginalize ourselves when we think like this.</p> <p>Extremists love this kind of frustration & negativity and use it to propel their ideology forward.</p> <p>For the media, being strongly optimistic about the situation, about our country, and highlighting the work of the <strong><em>countless</em></strong> organizations and people making a positive difference, is what’s needed.</p> <p>Not this constant attack, like there aren’t enough worries! It’s just gonna feed the public’s frustrations. That’s why sometimes I hate Geo News, it’s constant torrential misery: “and now for.. footage of…this dhamaka… followed by… making fun of meera who sucks.. and then.. interviews with shopkeepers on why the country sucks” We should highlight the strengths of the country and work on them. Negativity feeds extremism of any kind.</p>http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/4537122770http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/4537122770Mon, 11 Apr 2011 19:13:00 -0400http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1672805562http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1672805562Wed, 24 Nov 2010 16:24:00 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lbtuc9EqqS1qcv9s5o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/amirphotography/4352379188/in/photostream/">Shogran, Pakistan.</a> (by <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/amirphotography">Amir Mukhtar</a>)</p>http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1561805025http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1561805025Sat, 13 Nov 2010 09:16:56 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lbtuc1n2s31qcv9s5o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/amirphotography/4349814420/">Badshahi Mosque, Lahore, Pakistan.</a> (by <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/amirphotography">Amir Mukhtar</a>)</p>http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1561804247http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1561804247Sat, 13 Nov 2010 09:16:48 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lbtubic2r61qcv9s5o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaafoor/472253503/">Mesmerizing sunset on Karomber Lake, Pakistan</a> (by <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/kaafoor">Muhammad Adeel</a>)</p>http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1561802232http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1561802232Sat, 13 Nov 2010 09:16:30 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lbtua7Qlul1qcv9s5o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/maciejdakowicz/136404621/">Memorizing Qur’an - Lahore, Pakistan</a> (by <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/maciejdakowicz">Maciej Dakowicz</a>)</p>http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1561797766http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1561797766Sat, 13 Nov 2010 09:15:43 -0500<iframe width="400" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iNb6QB8gqAo?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br/><br/><p><a href="http://rangeenhaseena.tumblr.com/post/1521440766/and-this-hadiqa-u-make-lovely-music">rangeenhaseena</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p>and this… hadiqa.. u make lovely music..</p> </blockquote>http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1521499650http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1521499650Mon, 08 Nov 2010 21:58:21 -0500musicpakistanvideo<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lbkt2yLkbZ1qcv9s5o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>(by <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/sulemani">TARIQ SULEMANI</a>)</p> <p>Kaghan, Pakistan</p>http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1516907247http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1516907247Mon, 08 Nov 2010 12:11:22 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lbkt22ZOr31qcv9s5o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sulemani/5135108416/">THE ROCK,Umair one of the best trekkers in pakistan , he is active member of “concordians “</a> (by <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/sulemani">TARIQ SULEMANI</a>)</p> <p>Kaghan Valley</p>http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1516904451http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1516904451Mon, 08 Nov 2010 12:10:49 -0500<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lbkswk2DBK1qcv9s5o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/zanakhan/126897717/in/set-1670183/">Abbotabad</a> (by <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/zanakhan">Zana Khan</a>)</p>http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1516887424http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1516887424Mon, 08 Nov 2010 12:07:32 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lbk0m43cd51qbimfpo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://miss-amna.tumblr.com/post/1514130708/faisal-masjid-islamabad-pakistan">miss-amna</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p><span>Faisal Masjid, Islamabad, Pakistan</span></p> </blockquote> <p>It is the largest mosque in South Asia, designed by the Turkish architect Vedat Dakolay. </p> <p>It was designed to resemble the Bedoin’s tent in the desert.</p>http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1516854040http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1516854040Mon, 08 Nov 2010 12:01:02 -0500<iframe width="400" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/X1hwvcc5YWk?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br/><br/><p>Abrar-ul-Haq sings Iqbal’s poem. Subtitles in English.</p> <p><span><br/>کبھی اے حقیقت منتظر نظر آ لباس مجاز میں<br/>کہ ہزاروں سجدے تڑپ رہے ہیں‌میری جبین نیاز میں<br/><br/>طرب آشنائے خروش ہو، تو نوا ہے محرم گوش ہو<br/>وہ سرور کیا کہ چھپا ہوا ہو سکوت پردہ ساز میں<br/><br/>تو بچا بچا کہ نہ رکھ سے، ترا آئنہ ہے وہ آئنہ<br/>کہ شکستہ ہو تو عزیز تر ہے نگاہ آئنہ ساز میں<br/><br/><br/>نہ کہیں جہاں میں اماں ملی، جو اماں ملی تو کہاں ملی<br/>مرے جرم خانہ خراب کو ترے عفو بندہ نواز میں<br/><br/>نہ وہ عشق میں رہیں گرمیاں، نہ وہ حسن میں رہیں شوخیاں<br/>نہ وہ غزنوی میں تڑپ رہی، نہ وہ خم ہے زلف ایاز میں</span></p>http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1516835717http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1516835717Mon, 08 Nov 2010 11:57:25 -0500video<iframe width="400" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7fd4AwAwr5c?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br/><br/><p>Nahid Siddiqui performs Kathak, a graceful and mesmerizing classical dance.</p>http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1470997677http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1470997677Wed, 03 Nov 2010 11:05:01 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lbbdrr6Ffa1qcv9s5o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tango48/3474040032/">ASG book launch - mehvish and her classical dance</a> (by <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/tango48">tango 48</a>)</p> <p>islamabad, pak</p>http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1470984749http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1470984749Wed, 03 Nov 2010 11:02:14 -0400<p>Thank you. :)</p>http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1470936015http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1470936015Wed, 03 Nov 2010 10:51:55 -0400<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_latqyt7jbo1qet98po1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://runningintothewilderness.tumblr.com/post/1468171549/rangeenhaseena-muslimswearingthings-when-not">runningintothewilderness</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://rangeenhaseena.tumblr.com/post/1467718223/muslimswearingthings-when-not-accepting">rangeenhaseena</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://muslimswearingthings.tumblr.com/post/1461788296/when-not-accepting-international-prizes-honoring">muslimswearingthings</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p>When not accepting international prizes honoring his contributions to tolerance, peace and the well-being of the downtrodden, Abdul Sattar Edhi wears a distinguished cap and a loving embrace.</p> </blockquote> <p>the best person on the planet</p> </blockquote> <p>HE’S MY HERO <3</p> </blockquote> <p>the pride of Pakistan.</p>http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1470932167http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1470932167Wed, 03 Nov 2010 10:51:05 -0400<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lb8ybzCmWs1qcv9s5o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rezagilani/2651522577/">Lake Saif-ul-Malook</a> (by <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/rezagilani">Syed Reza Gilani</a>)</p> <p>If you click on the picture you can read the legend of Said ul Malook.</p>http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1460146160http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1460146160Tue, 02 Nov 2010 03:33:34 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lb8y4aan5R1qcv9s5o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/khalilshah/4129783829/">Untamed</a> (by <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/khalilshah">Khalil Shah</a>)</p>http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1460125819http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1460125819Tue, 02 Nov 2010 03:28:58 -0400<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lb8y2huM0t1qcv9s5o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/khalilshah/5062005064/">Hunza Valley</a> (by <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/khalilshah">Khalil Shah</a>)</p>http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1460121070http://pakistanpassion.tumblr.com/post/1460121070Tue, 02 Nov 2010 03:27:53 -0400