The Koli of Pakistan

Published April 24, 2014
A Kutchi Koli woman in Shahdadpur, Sindh. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
A Kutchi Koli woman in Shahdadpur, Sindh. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
A Kutchi Koli woman preparing food in Shahdadpur, Sindh. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
A Kutchi Koli woman preparing food in Shahdadpur, Sindh. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
Koli woman in Tharparkar, Sindh. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
Koli woman in Tharparkar, Sindh. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
A boy collecting firewood for domestic needs in Tharparkar, Sindh. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
A boy collecting firewood for domestic needs in Tharparkar, Sindh. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
A woman going to get water in Jhuddo, Mirpur Khas District, Sindh. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
A woman going to get water in Jhuddo, Mirpur Khas District, Sindh. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
Water scarcity is the major issue of Tharparkar desert. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
Water scarcity is the major issue of Tharparkar desert. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
A family in front of their hut in Thar.  – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
A family in front of their hut in Thar. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
Women returning home after collecting firewood in Thar. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
Women returning home after collecting firewood in Thar. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu

The Koli tribes are located in southeastern Pakistan. They are primarily concentrated in the lower Thar Desert, just east of the Indus River. There are several major subdivisions of Koli in that area, including the Wadiyara Koli, the Kutchi Koli (or Lohar), and the Tharadari Koli. The Koli tribes all speak their own Indo-Aryan languages.

Here are some pictures of the people from the various Koli tribes.

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