Kala Pani - Pakistans traditional Boat Builders

This is an ongoing documentary project telling the stories of Pakistan’s traditional boat builders in Ibrahim Hyderi, Karachi.

I first became interested in this project through my research into Pakistan and its cultural heritage and crafts. During this research, I came across an article about the boatyard that had been published by a news outlet a few years earlier. I was immediately fascinated by the craftsmanship and the sheer scale of some of the boats, and decided to visit the place during my travels through Pakistan.

What I experienced and learned when I arrived at the yard, including spending time and drinking tea at the small food stall used by the workers, ultimately led me to turn this into a photographic documentary project. While I was initially drawn to the boats and the craftsmanship, I became increasingly interested in the people behind them — their skills, their experiences, and the struggles they have faced working at the yard over the years.

Through conversations with the people there and further research, I learned more about the economic struggles facing the yard, the declining demand for handmade boats, and the challenges faced by the workers. I also became interested in the future of the craft, particularly as younger generations from some of the families involved are choosing different paths rather than following in the footsteps of their parents.

The photographs shown here are from my first few visits to the yard.

Charsaddas Gur (Jaggery making) Tradition

This is an ongoing project about traditional Jaggery production in Charsadda its surrounding villages and the cultural importance of the well beloved natural sweetener.

The project began after linking up with Wajeeha, Saad and Shahid who have assisted me during my time in Charsadda and allowed me to get insight to several traditional Workshops withunder a Weavery a Shoemaker and contact to the people making the Jaggery on the outskirts of charsadda.

The Jaggery-making lends itself especially well for photographic work thanks to the dramatic look of the thick sweet steam clouds wafting off from the huge pans with boiling sugarcane juice and the smoke clouds from the burning sugarcane underneath. But apart from just its visual appearance Gur making is a deeply cultural practice in the indus Valley. What was once a method to preserve the Sugarcane harvest is now a stable in many households. It is said to aid mineral deficensies digestive problems and fatigue. This small documentation is still in its early stages but aims to show the cultural connection that the people have to the land and the practice that many people in villages around Pakistan still do.

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