Photos from the Field, Pakistan

August 2002, Pakistan

T. Kurosaki

Last revision: October 1, 2004

After two year absence due to my concentration in Myanmar field works, I re-visited Pakistan in August 2002. Macroeconomic stagnation in Pakistan was felt everywhere. For my previous photos taken in February 2002, please visit this page.

Changes in Peshawar Villages

I re-visited Hindko Daman, one of the three villages where I have been doing field works, in Peshawar District, North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan. The biggest change is the effects of "Devolution" policies. The current military government is distributing development fund to the local level through Nazims, who were elected by local people. The left photo shows newly built drinking water tank. The right photo shows newly built drainage. Both were built with the devolution fund.

I discussed with the village chairman intensively. I heard many bad stories, like bad crop harvests, declining wage labor opportunities, etc. Nevertheless, the devolution seems to have brought hopes in the village.


Although not taken in the survey villages, I would like to show a photo of "Persian Wheel". I took this photo on my way to Peshawar Valley. Due to high spread of diesel- or electricity- run tubewells, the traditional technology of Persian Wheel is disappearing in Pakistan. Please see this page for more information on Persian Wheel and irrigation in South Asia. Pumping up groundwater by bullock power is no longer efficient under the current market conditions.

Pakistan on Independence Day

I happened to be in Pakistan during this field trip on here independence day. In August 14, 1947, the new state of Pakistan declared independence in Karachi under the leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Therefore, I went to Jinnah Mausoleum in Karachi on that day. As I did not have an invitation letter, I was not able to see the ceremony. Instead, I celebrated the day with ordinary Karachites, shown in the photo.


Karachites celebrated the independence way in various ways. This photo shows an eccentric young man who cheered for Pakistan with his hair style.


It is quite hot and humid during this period in Pakistan. The photo shows the two greatest fruits in Pakistan to relieve us of the heat. A big, American football-shaped fruit is Tarbuza, shown in the left half of the photo. The photo also shows mangoes. The sweetest fruit of the world. I really enjoyed the two fruits this time.

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