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    Book Review: Colors of Deosai - A Wonderland of Pakistan by Arif Amin and Ghulam Rasool

    Written by: Aiman Javed
    Posted on: April 06, 2018 | | 中文

    Deosai Plains

    ‘Colors of Deosai – A Wonderland of Pakistan,’ is a coffee table photography book, by Arif Amin and Ghulam Rasool. Both photographers have extensive experience and are highly respected in their field. While Arif Amin and Ghulam Rasool previously published a book on Birds of Pakistan, Ghulam Rasool has also been working with WWF Pakistan on their Pakistan Wetlands Programme.

    A White-browed Tit Warbler

    A White-browed Tit Warbler

    The book takes you on a journey through Deosai’s different areas and the scenery of the 3000 sq. km area, as it undergoes a cycle of seasons. Deosai National Park, the land of the giants, is the second highest plateau in the world, with an elevation of 4,114 meters. The area features a variety of flora, such as the Asian Bell Flower, Pink Sedum and Golden Ragworts, and fauna including the Brown Bear, Red Fox, Stoat, Pika and Marmot, all captured in their natural habitat by the photographers.  The book begins at the confluence of the three mountain ranges, Himalayas, Hindu Kush and Karakorams, and ends on images of Deosai in winters.

    A Stoat

    A Stoat

    Recently, at Serena Hotel, Islamabad, the 84 pages long book was launched by Engro Foods. Published under their Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, the coffee table book intends to stress the importance of the fragile ecosystem of the area, which is consistently under threat due to pollution, climate change and increased tourist activity. The strength of the photography cannot to be denied, since the images do justice to the breathtaking beauty of Deosai, and motivate the reader to visit as well as value this wonderland.  The skill exhibited by the photographers is a testament to how far nature and wildlife photography has come in Pakistan.

    Aconitum or Monkshood flowers

    Aconitum or Monkshood flowers

    While the information compiled with the photographs successfully conveys the symbiotic relationship of the animals and plants, it does little to delineate the threats faced by them. Facts, figures and photographs could have been provided about the ongoing damage to the ecosystem, but the book remains focused on enchanting images of the area. As a reader, I wanted to learn far more from this book about the region but none of the pictures have captions underneath them, and the names of flora and fauna have to be located in the accompanying paragraphs (occasionally not mentioned.)

    A plant

    A plant

    As a reader, one also feels the need to know which photograph can be credited to which photographer. While the efforts of the contributing photographers, Awais Ali Sheikh and Ali Javed have been fully acknowledged, they ought to have been credited for each photograph contributed. As Arif Amin said during the launch, without their significant images of the Himalayan Brown Bear, the book would have been incomplete.

    Deosai in Spring

    Deosai in Spring

    According to Engro management, the ‘Colors of Deosai’ is a first in a series of books that the company intends to publish about Pakistan. It provides the reader with captured moments of serenity, as the reader gets lost in the diverse beauty of Deosai. Here is to hoping Engro Foods will extend its initiative and take steps towards environmental protection and rehabilitation, undoing the damage oftentimes caused, ironically by irresponsible corporations.

    Deosai in Autumn

    Deosai in Autumn

    A butterfly

    A butterfly

    A flower

    A flower

    A Himalayan Rubythroat

    A Himalayan Rubythroat


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021