Pakistani writer’s social media project bags journalism award in India
The project is focused on showing an unconventional image of Pakistan to the world.

Everyday Pakistan is a social media project focused on defying Pakistan’s stereotypical image.
With over 70k followers, this project by Anas Saleem is aimed at changing the country’s conventional image through pictures.
It was declared a winner in the Citizen Media and Journalism category at the Social Media for Empowerment 2019 awards, New Delhi.
Anas Saleem, with his innovative social media project Everyday Pakistan, is changing the country’s conventional image through the lens. Beautiful, cultural and colorful pictures of Pakistan that paint Anas’s Instagram newsfeed show a picture contrary to the grim portrait painted by the international media – and that is what the world is celebrating him for.
”Inspired by Everyday Mumbai, an Instagram project that curates images of life in India’s financial capital, Saleem realized there was no similar account for the cities of Pakistan. So he created one on his own, launching Everyday Pakistan”, wrote Quartz India, describing Anas’s project.
Belonging to Faislabad, Anas, a free-lance writer, kickstarted this project back in February 2018. In a short span of one year, not only has the social media project managed to leave a mark at the heart of Pakistanis but also on international forums. Everyday Pakistan was declared winner Citizen Media and Journalism category at the Social Media for Empowerment 2019 awards, New Delhi.
The contest is by co-organised by New Delhi-based Digital Empowerment Foundation and Facebook. It celebrates “platform that identifies, recognizes and honors initiatives that leverage the power of social media to bring about a change.”
Here are some of the beautiful snaps from Anas’s feed:
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Sweet Dreams. Photo @zoralnaik #karachi #everydaypakistan #everydayeverywhere
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How it touched the neighbors’ hearts:
When Anas posted a photo of infamous Katas Raj temples, he was reached out on Instagram by a follower in India, who said his 85 years old grandfather wants to speak to him on phone. The conversation, that started in English but ended up in Punjabi, narrated many pre-partition stories as the elder shared how he used to live on this part of the border and made many trips to the site.
“He shared with me stories from before 1946 when, as a youngster, he used to visit the Katas Raj Temple. He expressed a desire to visit his hometown in Pakistan, but due to the political situation, it was difficult…” Anas shared.
However, the phone call had a lasting impact on him and he was surprised by the impact he was able to create through his platform.
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