When pictures are truly worth thousand words

Photo exhibition celebrates resilience and courage of the common man

LAHORE: They saw a picture speaks a thousand words and Pakistan Behind the Headlines, a photo exhibition being held at the Alhamra Arts Gallery from October 16 to October 20, aims to highlight this belief.

The event has been organised by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in collaboration with the Lahore Arts Council. The exhibition explores the lives and stories of people of Pakistan, especially in rural areas including Fata, Timergara, Chaman and Dera Murad Jamali.



It also narrates the story of financially-disadvantaged people living in big cities like Peshawar and Karachi. The photographs have been taken by artist and renowned photojournalist Sa’adia Khan. The exhibition was first unveiled in 2015 in Peshawar and Islamabad, followed by London.



Speaking at the opening ceremony, MSF Country Representative Catherine Moody says the purpose of the exhibition is to show that beyond the headlines, which are dominated by insecurity and violence, are real; men, women and children. She highlights that all of them are trying to lead normal lives in Pakistan.

“The exhibition celebrates their resilience and courage, but also highlights the difficulties they face in accessing basic needs such as healthcare,” she adds.

Photographer Sa’adia Khan says her work with MSF has taken her to far flung areas of Pakistan. “I am deeply privileged to have experienced and witnessed, firsthand, doctors who work tirelessly in regions otherwise deprived of even the most skeletal and basic medical facilities.”



Lahore Arts Council Executive Director Captain (Retd) Atta Muhammad Khan says MSF is doing a great service for humanity and this exhibition is executing their objectives and principles in an effective manner.

“Lahore Arts Council highly acknowledges MSF’s efforts and is proud to collaborate with them to serve humanity as much as possible,” he adds.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 18^th, 2017.