Here’s Pakistan, raw and real, through the lens of a smartphone

Three months, Rs250,000, and a backpack, what does that get you?

Memories for a lifetime.

From Gwadar to Khunjerab Pass – I made it to over a hundred sites travelling solo, hitchhiking and using public transport. What started out as a desire to get away from the day-to-day ordinariness of life, turned into a journey encompassing cities, towns, plains, forests, deserts, mountains and beaches. I managed to explore all four provinces and territories, all the while meeting some of the most wonderful people from all walks of life.

I was hosted by old friends in certain places and places where I had no friends, I ended up making more. When neither option was feasible, hotels provided a roof over my head. People were full of love and respect everywhere I went. The diverse landscape and terrain kept me fascinated all through out. What’s more is that the entire experience changed my perceptions about Pakistan and in the process, false myths and stigmas associated with Pakistan were debunked. Terrorism, oppression and poverty; these are the words that go hand-in-hand with Pakistan, or at least that is what the foreign media portrays. But their depiction is inaccurate. One has to experience Pakistan like I did to understand what it actually is.

I visited numerous places. The following is a list of places in each city I feel are worth a visit.

Gwadar

Port

Hammerhead

Astola Island

Beach

Kali Temple

Hingol National Park

Kund Malir

Hinglaj

Khuzdar

Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences

Taftan

Pak-Iran Border

Quetta

Hana Lake

Quetta Cantt mosque

Chaman

Pak-Afghan border

Bab-e-Chaman

Ziarat

Quaid-e-Azam Residency

Prospect Point

Baba Kharwari

Zaranda Tangi

Kawas Dam

Kolpur

Temple

Fort Munro

Anari

Triman

Damus

Playground

Sakhi Sarwar

Sakhi Sarwar shrine

Dera Ghazi Khan

Ghazi Khan shrine

Taunsa

Suleman Taunsvi shrine

Dera Ismail Khan

Indus River viewpoint

Jogian Wali Gali temple

Bannu

Bannu park

Parachinar

Mountains and meadows

Kohat

Kohat Tunnel

Zinda Peer

Peshawar

Bab-e-Khyber

Jamrud fort

Fort Bala Hisar

Qissa Khwani bazaar

Karkhano markets

Mohabbat Khan mosque

Peshawar museum

Deans mall

Malam Jabba

Ski Resort

Chitral

Shandur top

Swabi

Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology

Tarbela Dam

Attock

Attock Bridge

Attock Fort

Attock Festival

Hindu Temple

Hasan Abdal

Punja Sahi

Astore

Rama Meadows

Nankana Sahib

Nankana Sahib

Wah

Cantt

Taxila

Bhuddist ruins

Taxila museum

Islamabad

Faisal mosque

Daman-e-Koh

Monal restaurant

Pakistan museum

Saidpur village

Lok Virsa museum

Lake View park

Shakarparia

Pir Sohawa

Monument

Centaurus mall

Murree

Pathriata

Ayubi

Abbottabad

Shimla Hill

Harnoi

Thandiani

Naran

Lake Saif-ul-Mulk

Kaghan

Babusar top

Chilas

Shangrila hotel

Tatu

Fairy meadows

Nanga Parbat base camp

Deosai

Sheosar lake

Skardu

Shangrila resorts

Sadpara lake

Karimabad

Rakaposhi peak

Altit fort

Eagle’s nest

Attabad

Attabad lake

Sost

Khunjerab pass

Rawalakot

Banjosa lake

Khewra

Khewra mines

Katas

Katas Raj

Lahore

Badshahi mosque

Minar-e-Pakistan

Lahore fort

SoZo water park

Lahore museum

Jhalo park

Lahore zoo

Wahga border

Multan

Shah Rukne-e-Alam shrine

Bahawalpur

Noor mehal

Derawar fort

Saqidabad

Bhong mosque

Guddu

Guddu barrage

Daharki

SSD temple

Khairpur

Kot Diji fort

Sukkur

Masoom Shah minar

Lansdowne bridge

Sukkur barrage

Sadh Belo

Larkana

Mohenjo Daro

Bhutto family mausoleum

Dadu

Gorakh hill

Nawabshah

Rani Kot

Sehwan

Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine

Mithi

Gadhi Bhitt

Shiv temple

Krishna temple

Nagarparkar

Chorio

Kasbo

Sardhro

Bhodesar mosque

Marvi well

Neenuram ashram

Ghori temple

Umarkot

Umarkot fort

Shiv temple

Thatta

Shah Jahan mosque

Makli hill

Kinjhar lake

Hyderabad

Rani Bagh

Karachi

Quaid-e-Azam tomb

Mohatta palace

Seaview

Do darya

Frere Hall

Arena

Atrium mall

Ocean mall

Dolmen mall

So here’s Pakistan, raw and real, through the lens of a smartphone. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

-Express Tribune