Humans Of New York in Pakistan

[A.M.]

Here's a little bit of positive news.

Humans of New York or HONY is a very popular Facebook that posts a picture and corresponding story for regular human beings around the world. The page has almost 15M likes.

The owner of the page has started expanding to other countries and chose Pakistan as one of the countries that he will visit this year. He has posted a few pictures from Pakistan already and will likely post more in the coming days.

Reading some of the comments to the pictures brought tears to my face. Enjoy.

 

[A.M.]

Timeline Photos - Humans of New York | Facebook

"Continuing in the tradition of last summer, I’m going to be travelling during the month of August and posting stories from overseas. Only this time I’ll be visiting two countries instead of trying to span the world, because that was exhausting, and it also caused my poor senile dog to forget my existence. The first stop is Pakistan. Hope you enjoy."

Timeline Photos - Humans of New York | Facebook

"When I'm bored, I call up Radio Pakistan and request a song, then I start dancing. I'll even dance on a rainy day. It's my way of expressing how grateful I am. I am the happiest man in Pakistan."

(Passu, Pakistan)

Timeline Photos - Humans of New York | Facebook

"When I was working on my doctorate, I discovered on the last day that my thesis was ten pages short, and he left his own office to run whatever errands I needed. He didn't even have a car. He took a rickshaw. I had a dream when I was deciding whether or not to marry him. I was falling through the air, but I didn't feel any fear, because I knew that he would catch me."

(Hunza Valley, Pakistan)

Timeline Photos - Humans of New York | Facebook

Today in microfashion....

(Hunza Valley, Pakistan)

Timeline Photos - Humans of New York | Facebook

"What's your goat's name?"
"Goat."

(Hunza Valley, Pakistan)

Timeline Photos - Humans of New York | Facebook

“One beautiful thing about advocating for the poor is that feminist ideals are advanced naturally. In order to fight eviction from their homes, women who patriarchy has kept secluded have been allowed to emerge into public life. Their husbands have been forced to choose their homes over their idea of honor. Even within my organization, the patriarchy is being broken down. Energetic young females are beginning to share influence with older male members. When you’re in a tough fight for a common cause, you can’t afford to be choosy about where the best ideas are coming from.”

(Hunza Valley, Pakistan)

 

[M.SAAD]

Cool, Amir Khan (British Boxer) is in Pakistan too.

 

[A.M.]

Timeline Photos - Humans of New York | Facebook

"The most important thing about swimming is to not be afraid."
"What advice do you have for people who are afraid?"
"Just don't be afraid. Or you'll drown."

(Hunza Valley, Pakistan)

Humans of New York's Photos - Humans of New York | Facebook

"I want to be a chef."
"What's the best part about being a chef?"
"You can make your own dessert."

(Hunza Valley, Pakistan)

Humans of New York's Photos - Humans of New York | Facebook

"I grew up in the village behind me. It's very beautiful here but there are few opportunities. Whenever I think about my children's prospects, I grow sad. I have nothing to provide for them so they'll probably end up like me, taking whatever work they can just to survive. My parents died when I was ten. I went to live with my aunt and my uncle. They never gave me grief. They never made me feel bad. But they were also poor, and every time we sat down to eat, I felt like I was stealing from their family. The guilt grew so bad that when I turned 15, I tried to build a shed for myself. I lived there for about six months. But then the winter came. And eventually the cold grew stronger than the guilt."

(Hunza Valley, Pakistan)

Humans of New York's Photos - Humans of New York | Facebook

"What's your favorite thing about your sister?"
"Her happiness."

(Hunza Valley, Pakistan

Humans of New York's Photos - Humans of New York | Facebook

“I wanted to be a singer. I loved music. I practiced all the time and worked on writing songs for myself. I loved sad songs especially. But the community put so much pressure on my mother. My father passed away when I was twelve. And everyone kept telling my mother that a girl could not be something like a singer without her father’s permission. My father wouldn’t have minded. He was always so supportive of me. But my mom was so worried about what people would think. She begged me to stop. She grew so nervous that I finally told her, ‘It's OK, Mom. I’ll stop.’ Now I just listen to music. It’s too sad for me to sing anymore.”

(Hunza Valley, Pakistan)

Humans of New York's Photos - Humans of New York | Facebook

"There were no paved roads here when I was a boy. We had to walk for 3 days to get to places that only take 2 hours now. There was never any money for school. We had no wealth or property. Beginning at six years old, I cleaned dishes at a restaurant until 9 pm. Then I would go to sleep and start again. All my money went to my parents. I'd hear stories about cities and airplanes, but they seemed like fairy tales. I'd dream of visiting these places, but before I could get too far, I'd be hungry again. So I grew up thinking that the entire world was like our valley. I thought all children lived like me. Then one day when I turned 16, I had the opportunity to visit to the city of Gilgit. I couldn't believe it. I saw a boy eating at a restaurant with his father. He was my age. He was wearing a school uniform. I broke down in tears."

(Hunza Valley, Pakistan)

 

[Hurter]

Humans of New York - Continuing in the tradition of last summer, I’m going to be travelling during the month of August and posting stories from overseas. Only this time I’ll be visiting two countries instead of trying to span the world, because that was exhausting, and it also caused my poor senile dog to forget my existence. The first stop is Pakistan. Hope you enjoy.

1)

“Sorry, my English is not good. I’m here to climb mountains. I left my husband and sweet childrens back in Austria.”

(Hunza Valley, Pakistan)

2)

"When I'm bored, I call up Radio Pakistan and request a song, then I start dancing. I'll even dance on a rainy day. It's my way of expressing how grateful I am. I am the happiest man in Pakistan."

(Passu, Pakistan)

3)

"When I was working on my doctorate, I discovered on the last day that my thesis was ten pages short, and he left his own office to run whatever errands I needed. He didn't even have a car. He took a rickshaw. I had a dream when I was deciding whether or not to marry him. I was falling through the air, but I didn't feel any fear, because I knew that he would catch me."

(Hunza Valley, Pakistan)

4)

Today in microfashion....

(Hunza Valley, Pakistan)

5)

"What's your goat's name?"
"Goat."

(Hunza Valley, Pakistan)

6)

"It’s a difficult time to be a socialist. The left has been depleted everywhere else, but in Pakistan it’s been decimated. I belong to an organization called the Awami Worker’s Party, and right now is a crucial moment for us. We are trying to resist slum evictions in Islamabad. There is no affordable housing in the city, so servants and laborers huddle together in informal settlements called kachi abadis, which have no water or electricity. Recently, the Islamabad high court has issued an eviction notice, and the land is being sold out beneath them. They are defending their actions by saying that terrorists hide in the slums. Right now an operation is underway to remove the slum inhabitants by force."

(Hunza Valley, Pakistan)

7)

"The most important thing about swimming is to not be afraid."
"What advice do you have for people who are afraid?"
"Just don't be afraid. Or you'll drown."

(Hunza Valley, Pakistan)

 

[Hurter]

8)

"I want to be a chef."
"What's the best part about being a chef?"
"You can make your own dessert."

(Hunza Valley, Pakistan)

9)

"I grew up in the village behind me. It's very beautiful here but there are few opportunities. Whenever I think about my children's prospects, I grow sad. I have nothing to provide for them so they'll probably end up like me, taking whatever work they can just to survive. My parents died when I was ten. I went to live with my aunt and my uncle. They never gave me grief. They never made me feel bad. But they were also poor, and every time we sat down to eat, I felt like I was stealing from their family. The guilt grew so bad that when I turned 15, I tried to build a shed for myself. I lived there for about six months. But then the winter came. And eventually the cold grew stronger than the guilt."

(Hunza Valley, Pakistan)

10)

"What's your favorite thing about your sister?"
"Her happiness."

(Hunza Valley, Pakistan)

11)

“I wanted to be a singer. I loved music. I practiced all the time and worked on writing songs for myself. I loved sad songs especially. But the community put so much pressure on my mother. My father passed away when I was twelve. And everyone kept telling my mother that a girl could not be something like a singer without her father’s permission. My father wouldn’t have minded. He was always so supportive of me. But my mom was so worried about what people would think. She begged me to stop. She grew so nervous that I finally told her, ‘It's OK, Mom. I’ll stop.’ Now I just listen to music. It’s too sad for me to sing anymore.”

(Hunza Valley, Pakistan)

12)

"There were no paved roads here when I was a boy. We had to walk for 3 days to get to places that only take 2 hours now. There was never any money for school. We had no wealth or property. Beginning at six years old, I cleaned dishes at a restaurant until 9 pm. Then I would go to sleep and start again. All my money went to my parents. I'd hear stories about cities and airplanes, but they seemed like fairy tales. I'd dream of visiting these places, but before I could get too far, I'd be hungry again. So I grew up thinking that the entire world was like our valley. I thought all children lived like me. Then one day when I turned 16, I had the opportunity to visit to the city of Gilgit. I couldn't believe it. I saw a boy eating at a restaurant with his father. He was my age. He was wearing a school uniform. I broke down in tears."

(Hunza Valley, Pakistan)

@Horus @Akheilos @waz @AZADPAKISTAN2009 @syedali73 @Bratva @FaujHistorian @Baloch Pakistani @Windjammer @OTTOMAN @HRK @Major Sam @black-hawk_101

 

[Neutron]

Positive story

 

[Hashim Deo]

It seems Hunza centered

 

[[Bregs]]

superb compilation. Thanks for sharing

 

[Hurter]

Check out the comments on Facebook guys... Those comments from all over the World made me share this on PDF.

I really want to thank Humans of New York to show the brighter side of Pakistan... That's what the real Pakistan is. I hope more pictures are to come.

 

[EagleEyes]

Muslims of America page is good too, it is owned by a friend of mine.

 

[Dubious]

Muslims of America page is good too, it is owned by a friend of mine.

 

[A.M.]

“Sorry, my English is not good. I’m here to climb mountains. I left my husband and sweet childrens back in Austria.”

(Hunza Valley, Pakistan)
-----------

"I just found out we've been evicted. Right after you leave, I'm going to start packing up. I've got to find my family a new place to live by tonight. The landlady is a good woman. She's just in a tough situation. Her disabled son lost his home. I'll handle it. I've been through worse."

(Hunza Valley, Pakistan)
----------

“My life is on repeat, every day. This area is surrounded by water, but my village has no access, so every morning I make a two-hour trek to the glacier so we have something to drink. During the day I work to maintain this road. I get $100 a month. In the winter, I make daily trips to cut wood so we can stay warm. I can’t leave this land because it’s all I have. There is no happiness or sadness in my life. Only survival.”

(Passu, Pakistan)
----------

“He’s a very respectful husband. He’s different from a lot of the men in this region. He never stops me from voicing my opinions. And if he ever notices me walking down the road, there’s always hot tea and apricot cake waiting when I arrive.”

(Passu, Pakistan)

 

[CENTCOM]

In this age of social media one man from New York has made a unique name for himself. He created a Facebook page and titled it ‘Humans of New York”. He travels throughout the world and posts images and short stories of the countries he visits and the people he meets. These photos and stories are attracting the attention of thousands of people around the world. Brandon Stanton has been visiting Pakistan since July, 29th. What’s amazing are the responses and feedback he is getting from people regarding Pakistan and his journey. Here are some of the comments he has received:

Janine Keller: “Thank you for showing the beauty of Pakistan. Lived there years ago, and it holds a special place in my heart.”
Blaine Butenhoff: “These stories make me want to visit Pakistan! Thanks HONY!”

Sue Bernhardt: “I get goose bumps reading all the comments from Pakistanis here saying that HONY manages to show what Pakistan is to them...Goes to show that it takes nothing more than a kind heart and open mind to capture the spirit of a country and its people...Oh and the photos make me want to visit Pakistan of course.”

Stephanie Safholm: “I am really enjoying getting to know the people of Pakistan through your posts. You are doing an amazing job presenting humanity to all of us.”

It is nice to people around the world now have an opportunity to see a different side of Pakistan which very few people get to see these days.


Abdul Quddus
DET - U.S. Central Command
www.facebook.com/centcomurdu