Photography show: Resilience of Pakistanis captured in photos

Agence France-Presse has provided 102 photographs for the exhibit.


Our Correspondent April 12, 2017
PHOTO: EXPRESS

LAHORE: A two-week photography exhibition has opened at the Lahore Museum aiming to create awareness about sustainable development goals (SDG) and telling stories through photographs.

About 102 photographs provided by the Agence France-Presse (AFP) showcase human stories related to the current status on development in Pakistan and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

The show titled ‘Pakistan’s Sustainable Development: Human Stories through Photography’ has been organised by the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in collaboration with the Lahore Museum.

“Photography is one of the best possible mediums to tell stories and promoting SDG’s is among the top priorities for the UN as well as the French embassy in Pakistan,” said Ambassador of France to Pakistan Martine Dorance while inaugurating the show.

The purpose of taking these photographs was to create awareness about Pakistan’s development priorities, inspire Pakistanis to take action and to remind the viewers of the work that needs to be done to achieve the 17 recognised SDGs that include health, industry, employment, climate change, food, electricity, gender equality and peace and justice.



Pakistan and Afghanistan AFP Bureau Chief Amélie Herenstein said it was a great honour for AFP to present, for the first time, its photos directly to the Pakistani public.

Herenstien said they deliberately chose to focus on the human angle of the stories, portraying the reality of life as it was now for millions of Pakistanis, be they shopkeepers, teachers, farmers, children, or immigrants abroad.

The exhibition also documents the extraordinary resilience of ordinary Pakistanis in the face of tragic events like floods or what everyday life is like when one works in a brick kiln or forced out of home to a refugee camp, or to live in a drought prone desert or in the unforgiving climate of untamed mountain.

European Union Ambassador to Pakistan Jean-François Cautain said the EU for the past many years has been working closely with the Pakistani government, private sector and civil society to tackle challenges.

He said the EU contributed to design millennium declaration and Millennium Development Goals, which expired in 2015. “Building on these successes, we have made a constructive contribution to the development of SDG’s which addresses poverty eradication and economic, environmental and social dimensions of sustainable development,” he added.

“We will continue this strong partnership, in cooperation with the UN, ensuring that our assistance contributes to Pakistan in achieving the SDGs for the benefit of each citizen of this country,” said Cautain.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 12th, 2017.

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