KARACHI: Balochistan Air-Panoramas and Landscapes, a pictorial coffee table book that compliments the beauty of Pakistan’s largest province by Aziz Ahmed Jamali and Tahir Khan Kayani was launched at the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi on Monday. The book captures the scenic beauty of Balochistan both from the ground and above.

Journalist Wusatullah Khan, who moderated a panel discussion about the book, said that the book focuses on some 40 areas in Balochistan from Taftan to Gadani and from Jiwani to Takht-i-Sulaiman. “It reveals to you in its own unique and artistic ways the quiet beauty of eight mountain ranges, flora and fauna, juniper forests, olive plantations and pine trees,” he said.

Introducing the book’s two authors, he said that Aziz Ahmed Jamali is a civil servant, who has been posted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Balistan, Kirthar, Makran, etc. “He has taken many photographs and videos of all these places from his cell phone,” he said.

About Tahir Khan Kayani, who could not attend the launch, he said that he was an airman whose photographs have been exhibited in many US cities and Japan. While Jamali captured Balochistan’s beauty from the ground, Kayani captured it from the air. “And when these two met, the book happened,” said Wusat.

He asked Jamali if he faced any challenges while traveling through Balochistan and if he needed permission to go to places to which the co-author pointed to many people sitting in the audience, who also travelled all over Balochistan because they very much wanted to.

Scholar Kaleemullah Lashari says the authors’ effort can serve as a great tourism guidebook

Jamali also said that the book should be seen as an introduction to the natural beauty of Balochistan to which Wusat replied that then it may only be the tip of the iceberg.

Poet and researcher Dr Fatima Hassan said that every eye cannot notice scenic beauty. “Many pass by the most beautiful of sights without noticing a thing. But the co-authors of this book are lucky to have noticed the scenic beauty of Balochistan while also being able to show it to others through their book,” she said. “They have done extraordinary work of bringing into focus the largest province of Pakistan that is still unscathed by pollution,” she added.

Lawyer and activist Waheed Noor said that the book’s cover itself made him very happy as it happens to have a picture of Pasni, his hometown. “We call Balochistan ‘Gul Zameen’. It is a paradise, which is sitting on explosives, sadly. But the book has highlighted its positives in high resolution,” he said.

“The entire 124 pages of the book are a declaration of love for Balochistan. Indeed, Balochistan is beautiful. I just wish that the lives of the people of Balochistan were also as beautiful as their surroundings,” he added.

Archaeologist, scholar and writer Kaleemullah Lashari observed that even though the book gives a panoramic view of Balochistan, it does not have pictures of the people of Balochistan.

Still, he said as far as the geographic features of the province are concerned it is a good reflection of Balochistan.

“The pictures taken from the ground could have done full justice to the scenic beauty of Balochistan but the aerial view gives the complete picture of what a remarkable and exquisite place it is. The book can serve as a great tourism guidebook,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2025