Photo exhibition: A stroll through Pakistan

Rehan Khan exhibits the moments he captured across the country at Arts Council

KARACHI: Driven by a passion for photography, one fine Sunday morning Rehan Khan went to the fourth floor of the apartments opposite the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) building to capture the historic structure from different angles.  

His intent at the time was to depict the ancient beauty of Karachi through his camera's lens and that's what he has been doing since 2001. He has also been associated with the KMC since the last 30 years and is now working as a senior director there. Khan is exhibiting as many as 218 photographs depicting Pakistan at a photo exhibition titled 'Explore Pakistan' at Arts Council on Friday.

He talked about the picture of the KMC building and said that the reason he captured it was his association with the organisation since the last 30 years. "No one can imagine the level of satisfaction I enjoyed while capturing the KMC's building photograph," he said. He then narrated how on one Sunday morning he hopped onto the apartments opposite the building after quarrelling with its residents. "I did it for my passion to capture Pakistan."

Talking about the first picture showing the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Khan said he considered the monument an icon for Karachi. Why is the main focus of his exhibition Sindh and particularly Karachi. According to him, his inclinations were such as he was a resident of this province and held deep feelings for the old buildings of Karachi.

Khan's passion then took him to faraway lands, such as Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. His itinerary's favourite part was in Chakwal district's area, Katasraj, where he had the opportunity to capture the seven mandirs [temples] built together. "These temples are tentative on the United Nation's world heritage list," he said. "We have failed to make it to the final list because of the government's negligence."

He said that he intended to write a book on his journey across Pakistan, in which he promised to mention the historical details of these temples.

Photographer Rehan Khan has captured the beauty of Pakistan through his camera. The pictures are on display at the Arts Council. PHOTOS: AYSHA SALEEM/EXPRESS

According to Khan, the image of Pakistan being portrayed in the world is not that of the real Pakistan. "With this little effort of mine, I have tried to paint the true soul of this country," he said. He further added that in the prevailing law and order situation anyone promoting art and culture in Pakistan was doing 'jihad'.

Bombay Bakery

One picture that stood out among all the others was that of the famous Bombay Bakery of Hyderabad which, according to Khan, has its own cultural importance. "After capturing Pakka Qila and the tombs of Talpur Mirs in Hyderabad, I could not stop myself from capturing this historic bakery," he said, adding that Hyderabad was known for this bakery.

Commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, who was the chief guest at the exhibition, was of the opinion that the way Pakistan's valuable assets and richness have been captured in the pictures was amazing. He promised to appreciate Khan's effort by bestowing the civil award upon him.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2015.