A young country with old roots, Pakistan became an independent state in 1947, though the region forming the modern country is the site of richly layered ancient cultures. Born an explicitly Muslim state, the struggle between its secularism and Islam has never been so pronounced as in recent years. With a population of over 170 million, the country is crippled by rivalry with India over Kashmir, and a number of regional conflicts. Taliban-led insurgency followed by devastating natural disasters, including the 2005 earthquake and 2010 flooding, have left the country and people in peril.

Pakistan’s territory has long been known for its beautiful silk weaves, and in the Middle Ages, for gold and silver brocades. Pakistani handicrafts today are as varied as the ethnic backgrounds of the artisans themselves, and include sophisticated work in wood, beaten brass, copperware, pottery, jewelry, a wide variety of embroidered textiles, and internationally-renowned hand-designed carpets.

In recent years, the tradition of truck painting was born - sparked by competing transportation companies trying to attract more passengers. The exuberant moving canvasses are enriched with poetry and magical folk tale-imagery painted in luminescent colors. Pakistan’s truck art was awarded the UNESCO Seal of Excellence in the Handicrafts in 2008.