Pakistan does not exclusively mean Hunza: Bhutto Jr urges broader appreciation of country’s beauty

Activist shared a series of Insta Stories with pictures of scenic landscapes outside GB and KPK

In a compelling narrative challenging the conventional perception of Pakistan's beauty, activist and artist Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Jr, known for his advocacy on various social issues, took to Instagram to showcase the diverse and often overlooked splendour that extends beyond the northern regions of the country.

Protesting the popular trend of YouTubers, vloggers and influencers citing cold mountainous terrains up north as a testament to the country’s natural beauty and tourism potential, Bhutto remarked on a similar reel in his Insta Story. “No offense to the creators of this video but Pakistan does not exclusively mean Hunza!” penned the public figure in overlaying text. 

“Sindh's great river will begin to swell, our lotuses will come to bloom and the Baloch Juniper trees will bloom and spread their seeds. Our country is deserts, mangroves, the sea, forests and harsh beauty,” contended Bhutto. In a series of Stories, the visual artist challenged the notion ingrained in many Pakistanis that the nation's beauty is confined to a few select places, particularly in the north. 

Bhutto Jr shared pictures of natural wonders from across Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan, such as Mangho Pir in Karachi, Mithi in Tharparkar and Chenab river in Leyyah. In another Story, the activist emphasised how Sindhi children often grow up with the misconception that regions like Sindh are devoid of beauty, dismissing them as desert wastelands.

In a plea for a broader appreciation of Pakistan's natural wonders, Bhutto urged a shift in perspective. “Most Pakistanis are taught that where they live is not beautiful. Sindhi children especially are told they live in a desert wasteland and that the only thing beautiful about Pakistan is a handful of places in the north,” Bhutto Jr complained. 

He furthered on, “Yes, they are beautiful but the psychological and ecological toll on Sindh especially in the past 30 years has been devastating. We've lost our hills, our mountains and our rivers - much of this is greed but also it’s the psychological impact of being told Sindh is not beautiful enough.”

While on the quest to locate and share Pakistan’s other wonders not situated in the north, Bhutto posted a Story about the Karoonjhar mountains in the Tharparkar district. Calling attention to the sandy, rocky hills home to rich reserves of granite, the artist addressed his followers with a request for pictures of the region.

“My dear friends, it has been about five years since I went to Karoonjhar and I lost all my photos from there!” he disclosed. Interjecting his series of posts with the request, he urged others to share any pictures they had of the site with him. “Someone send me their photos and I will share them with due credit,” he offered.

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