Top-10 Photos of Pakistan - selected by Wiki Loves Monuments

This year Wikimedia Foundation that runs Wikipedia supported 'Wiki Loves Monuments' in Pakistan for the first time. 'Wiki Loves Monuments' is officially the biggest photography competition in the world according to the Guinness World Records.

Globally, the 2014 version of the contests saw more than 8,750 contestants in 41 countries across the globe, who submitted more than 308,000 photographs throughout the month of September.

Wiki Loves Monuments Pakistan 2014 was a successful contest, with more than 12,000 submissions by more than 700 people from across Pakistan, all under a free license, which means they can now be re-used by anyone for any purpose, (even commercially), as long as the re-user attributes the photographer.

Following are Top-10 photos selected by Pakistani Jury from 12,000 photos, to be presented for international contest.
Four (04) photos are of monuments in Lahore, Two (02) of Islamabad and Bahawalpur each, One (01) of Thatta and Uch Sharif each.
There are 03 photos of Mosques, 03 of Tombs, 02 of Forts, One of a Palace and One of a National Monument.
Shagufta Karim is the only female photographer whose photo is selected. While two photos of a photographer, Muhammad Ashar , were selected.

Enjoy these exciting glimpses of Pakistani culture, tradition, history and architectural beauty.

Wazir Khan Mosque in Lahore - Photographed by Shagufta Karim

Derawar Fort in Bahawalpur - Photographed by Ali Mir

Faisal Mosque in Islamabad - Photographed by Ali Mujtaba

Lahore Fort in Lahore - Photographed by Rohaan Bhatti

Pakistan Monument in Islamabad - Photographed by Abdul Baqi

Tomb of Bibi Jawindi in Uch Sharif - Photographed by Shah Zaman Baloch

Tomb of Jahangir in Lahore - Photographed by Sohaib Tahir

Shah Jahan Mosque in Thatta - Photographed by Ovais Waraich

Noor Mahal in Bahawalpur - Photographed by Muhammad Ashar

Tomb of Dai Anga in Lahore - Photographed by Muhammad Ashar

Participate in World's Largest Online Photo Competition in Pakistan

Wiki Loves Monuments (WLM) is holding an online photography competition in September 2014 to promote cultural heritage of Pakistan. Wiki Loves Monuments Pakistan is a part of the international annual photographic competition Wiki Loves Monuments, which is world’s biggest photography competition according to the Guinness World Records. "Wiki Loves Monuments" is sponsored by Wikimedia Organization, which runs and owns Wikipedia. 

Aim of the photo competition is to highlight and promote the cultural heritage sites of the participating

countries including Pakistan with the goal to encourage people to capture pictures of historically and culturally significant sites.

Wiki Loves Monuments is annually taking place every September since 2010. This is the first time Pakistan is participating in international photos competition. Please participate. The world is waiting to see what cultural heritage of Pakistan mean to you!

Pakistan’s cultural heritage is rich and diverse covering thousands of years of its history. All archaeological sites, monuments, buildings, shrines, places of worship and tombs in Pakistan, listed on Wikipedia’s page, are eligible for the competition.

Wiki Loves Monuments has nominated local organizing committee and jury board for Pakistani Photographer Contestants.

Competition Schedule

Participants can upload photos during the whole month of September, 2014.

In October, judges will begin evaluating the photographs and award prizes for the best photos in Pakistan and globally.

Prizes will be presented to the winners at the awards ceremony which will take place in November. 

How to Participate in Photography Competition in Pakistan

Anyone can participate in the competition by registering a free account on Wikipedia. 

• Create an account at Wikipedia by visiting this page.
• Choose the sites to photograph. You can use lists of cultural heritage sites in Pakistan onWikipedia to find subjects to photograph. The region-wise pages enlist the names and locations of sites. Photos must be of an eligible listed site. All other photos will be disqualified.
• Take photographs of the sites. You can take multiple photos of the same site; interior and exterior shots, specific architectural details, different times of day, different angles. You are also welcome to submit photos you may have taken in the past.
• Upload the photos.  Visit lists of cultural heritage sites in Pakistan on Wikipedia and click the upload photo icon in front of the concerned site on lists and follow the instructions in the upload wizard. There is no limit to how many photos you can enter. We would advise however, that you be selective and only upload your best shots! Upload the photos before the final deadline of 24:00 PST on 30th September, 2014.

Awards and Prizes for Photography Competition Winners 

The competition will have two rounds of prizes and awards; Pakistani Awards and International Awards. Followings are prizes for best photographs in Pakistan. 

• First position: Rs 20,000 
• Second position: Rs 15,000 
• Third position: Rs 10,000 
• Fourth and fifth position: Rs 5,000 each 
• The top 10 photographs will also win many non-cash gifts.
• Best 50 photographs including top ten winning entries will be later featured in exhibitions as well. 

The Pakistani jury will nominate three best and the seven highly recommended photos for the international contest, which has its own jury and awards. Last year the international winner won travel scholarship (had a maximum value of $3,000) to attend the Wikimania in London.