Foray into Balochistan

Nadir Siddiqui Published March 2, 2012
Three members of Pakwheels, Baber Khan, Jawad Hussain, and Fehd Siddique pose in an old MUTT Jeep owned by Camran Mir at a rest-stop. It was a restored army model and was modified to run on petrol rather than diesel. The other two cars can be seen parked in the background.
Three members of Pakwheels, Baber Khan, Jawad Hussain, and Fehd Siddique pose in an old MUTT Jeep owned by Camran Mir at a rest-stop. It was a restored army model and was modified to run on petrol rather than diesel. The other two cars can be seen parked in the background.
Naveed Merchant's Land Cruiser speeds along ahead as the group heads for the mountains.
Naveed Merchant's Land Cruiser speeds along ahead as the group heads for the mountains.
“Getting good landscape shots was easy in the beautiful countryside - even as the car sped along and wind battered us.” The open-air Jeep was perfect for taking photographs.
“Getting good landscape shots was easy in the beautiful countryside - even as the car sped along and wind battered us.” The open-air Jeep was perfect for taking photographs.
Wild grass grows on the plains with low mountain slopes in the background. Rainfall a day before the trip had left behind beautiful white clouds and a clear atmosphere.
Wild grass grows on the plains with low mountain slopes in the background. Rainfall a day before the trip had left behind beautiful white clouds and a clear atmosphere.
Naveed Merchant's Land Cruiser Prado traverses the off-road terrain before the beginning of the mountain climb.
Naveed Merchant's Land Cruiser Prado traverses the off-road terrain before the beginning of the mountain climb.
Rains during wintertime had left the terrain decorated with vibrant wild plant life.
Rains during wintertime had left the terrain decorated with vibrant wild plant life.
This image is a panorama stitched from five different shots and is taken from a mountain top just before sunset. On the left hand large excavating construction machinery can be seen dwarfed by the mountainside as a road was being constructed. The team could not set-up camp up here, because they could be stranded for up to two days due to construction and rock-slides.
This image is a panorama stitched from five different shots and is taken from a mountain top just before sunset. On the left hand large excavating construction machinery can be seen dwarfed by the mountainside as a road was being constructed. The team could not set-up camp up here, because they could be stranded for up to two days due to construction and rock-slides.
A view from the mountain-top, just after sunset.
A view from the mountain-top, just after sunset.
A view of the moonlit campsite in the quiet of the hills.
A view of the moonlit campsite in the quiet of the hills.
The group took a quick dip in the cold water of this small spring, while locals were herding donkeys and small goats on the precarious mountain slopes above. “It was just what we needed before heading back.”
The group took a quick dip in the cold water of this small spring, while locals were herding donkeys and small goats on the precarious mountain slopes above. “It was just what we needed before heading back.”
This image, stitched from five different shots to form a panorama, shows a section of the Milky Way just above the hilltops. Four meteorites can also be seen as they streaked across the sky during the long 30 second exposures. The glow on the bottom left is that of the sun about to rise.
This image, stitched from five different shots to form a panorama, shows a section of the Milky Way just above the hilltops. Four meteorites can also be seen as they streaked across the sky during the long 30 second exposures. The glow on the bottom left is that of the sun about to rise.

The Sindh-Balochistan border is not a place many sightseers venture to. Yet away from city lights are the dark clear nights where the magnificence of the sky can truly be seen. Venturing out there is an experience on its own, but makes it the perfect roadtrip for the petrol-heads at Pakwheels. Combined with the stargazers of the Karachi Astrnomers Society one has the perfect combination of adventure and exploration. Dawn.com's Nadir Siddiqui did just that, here are some of his photographs.

You can read his blog on the entire experience here.

Photos by Nadir Siddiqui/Dawn.com

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Comments (10) Closed
fahad
Mar 02, 2012 06:47pm
awesome pictures!!!
Recommend 0
sameer
Mar 02, 2012 07:17pm
wow...........
Recommend 0
sara
Mar 02, 2012 07:39pm
such a dazzling scenery.....
Recommend 0
abdul hanan
Mar 02, 2012 08:07pm
baz joanen poto hay. menathwar
Recommend 0
G.A.
Mar 03, 2012 01:03am
I once read a remark in a Western magazine that Pakistan was a hidden gem. You have just proven it right. Solve the security (or insecurity) problem and Pakistan would leave tourism industries of small desert kingdoms in the dust - literally.
Recommend 0
hm
Mar 03, 2012 02:01am
Wow, it's absolutely spectacular.
Recommend 0
SHUMAILA ZAKRIA
Mar 03, 2012 02:28am
i hav nu wrdz in whch i descrb tht pics...it simply mind blowng...<3 i cnt blv...iz thz PAKISTAN....ohhh i lov tht ...nd still me speechless...nd all credt goz to phtogrphr...hatx off 2 u...man...........:)
Recommend 0
Nomi
Mar 03, 2012 04:28pm
Just incredible photography. Keep it up. Please add more !
Recommend 0
izaz haque
Mar 03, 2012 06:44pm
the nightsky is just amazing!
Recommend 0
Qamar Abbas Khokhar
Mar 04, 2012 12:50pm
Excellent pictures and adventurous journey...Well done. Keep it up.
Recommend 0

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