These photographs are from a series of images documenting the indigenous cultural settlement found along Pakistan’s coastal belt.

The people of Gwadar are open to education and progress. Yet, they have a fear which is quite unique and one that urbanites would find particularly surprising: they fear foreign investment. Gwadar's residents believe that foreign cash and investment will burgeon alien corporations that will take over their resources. Furthermore, this fear is being used by rebellious forces in Balochistan to spread hate amongst citizens who feel that they have being unjustly treated and overlooked.

Gwadar is also suffering from the lack of a sustainable education system, as there are no universities for the local people.The economy of the coastal region depends largely on its fishing industry. Oil is smuggled from Iran for all and sundry and many make daily  excursions to the neighboring land where they have opened up shop and carry out businesses. With its vast long beaches and arid landscape, Gwadar has a lot to contribute to Pakistan’s economy yet its potential remains untapped and often, unnoticed. - Text and Photography by Asad Faruqi

(Asad Faruqi is a documentary photographer and filmmaker from Karachi. He was also part of the Emmy Award winning documentary film “Children of the Taliban.”)