Postcard from Pakistan

In the picturesque Upper Dir of North West Frontier Province, mountains tower over a civilisation thousands of years old. To this day, the rhythms of life are simple and traditional


In Upper Dir of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP), the mountains stand tall and straight, wearing peaked caps of snow, guardians of a civilisation thousands of years old. In summer, they look down on green fields and flower gardens that blossom naturally, with no help and no care from man. In winter, they look down on snow and huddled huts closing their doors against the icy wind.

Below in the valley, the people eke out a living, depending heavily on simple farming. They grow maize, wheat, spinach; a few lucky families have apple, pear, apricot and walnut orchards. Hushairai is a little village in the Upper Dir valley. The Punjkora river rushes through it, leaping over rocks, frothing, making its own loud hum.