PakStockPhoto is Pakistan’s first and only digital image library which offers authentic, quality photography for use in professional contexts.

Like many professionals, Abid Azam, Saqib Riaz, and Asad Zaidi were accustomed to using unrelated, generic images for their work. However, they felt the images did not adequately represent Pakistan’s unique culture. They created PakStockPhoto to find a solution for this problem.

As a growing start-up, PakStockPhoto leverages technology to create a seamless digital experience. The platform features thousands of pictures of Pakistan taken by some of the most creative and talented photographers in the country.

The digital platform enables photographers from all walks of life to access the market, such as those who may face specific barriers to entry, for example, the inability to travel extensively for their work.

Over 30 percent of the platforms photographers are women. PakStockPhoto also directly recruits photographers from the deaf community.

As the library grows, PakstockPhoto will be able to create a vastly different representation of Pakistan than is typically portrayed in mainstream media around the world.

In strong contrast to the frequent news stories of insecurity and terrorism about Pakistan, the work of PakStockPhoto presents authentic visuals of real people and their lives.