Pakistan's Soft Image

Photographer Yoo Beyl-nam's and a guest

Photographer with local children

Yoo is a Korean photographer, whose photo exhibition about Pakistan in Lahore and Seoul - were very impressive and successful. The exhibitions in Islamabad and Lahore were sponsored by Samsung - in an effort to project a softer image with an aim to explore the beauty of Pakistan and promote tourism by sponsoring such positive social events according to one official.

The photographer came to Pakistan in the year 2000 and the trip changed his course of life from being a sculptor to a professional photographer. Yoo has also published a book, titled 'Insha Allah' in 2006 in which he introduced the people and the natural scenery of Pakistan, through the photographs he captured during his trip through Pakistan.

According to the current Korean ambassador, his book 'Insha Allah' was the only comprehensive book on Pakistan in Korea's biggest book store named Kyobo - before he moved to Pakistan and was looking for books on it.

Yoo has already held several exhibitions of his photography in Seoul, Korea. During his television and Radio appearances, he says that he is deeply inspired by the people, places, culture and traditions of Pakistan.

He has beautifully highlighted the forgotten 'history' of religions through his photography. My favourite is his visit to Taxila - where he meets the mainstream religion of the area a few thousand years ago -'BUDDHISM' in today's Pakistan. He is captivated by Taxila & says that "...Even today, Taxila is a place of peace. Its pastoral landscape is almost as inviting as its living past. Early man knew what he was doing 3,000 years ago when he chose to build cities in this delightful valley."

The Kingdom of Gandhara in yester years included a part of present day Afghanistan, Taxila, Peshawar, Swat and a few other parts of northern Pakistan and Varanasi in India. Taxila was once the capital of Gandhara during the Mauriyan dynasty of Ashoka. Later on, it became the permanent capital during the Kushans.

Taxila is less than 35 minutes drive from Islamabad, Pakistan. I wonder, how many people have tried to visit this gem of a place...or have least bothered about exploring it...a place that still shines through its glorious past in the region.

photo credits@ Yoo Beyl's website/Korea Times.