ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: On Friday morning, the National Art Gallery (NAG) opened its doors to “Tolerance for Peace”, a photography exhibition calling for reconciliation between peoples as part of lasting civic peace.

Organised by NAG and a private advertising company, the exhibition features the work of both amateur and professional photographers.

Through print and electronic media, organisers solicited entries from around the country.

A panel of judges took 500 entries and, judging them on the basis of composition, creativity and technical excellence, eventually selected 50, from photographers working all over Pakistan, including Multan, interior Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan.

“We didn’t just want to get photographers to send in their work,” one of the organisers said.

“It was important for us that young people be involved, that positive activities be encouraged. Art is a powerful way to reflect on positive things.”

Indeed, several images showed pictures of smiling children. Another, “Travel teaches tolerance”, featured the silhouette of a crow in flight.

An organiser said that part of the project’s goal was to highlight how deeply intolerance had become rooted in society.

“These pictures call for tolerance and for unity,” he said. One photograph depicted an AK-47, hung up as though for good; another, titled “Abuse of rights”, captured two motorcyclists trying to make an illegal turn.—Staff Reporter