Walled city Authority organizes “WEKH LAHORE”photo contest

Lahore: The walled city of Lahore Authority organized its third season of WEKH LAHORE photo contest and exhibition. The event was inaugurated by the Director General WCLA Kamran Lashari and the VC of Lahore Garrison University.

There were 1389 entries for the contest and exhibition out of which 453 were displayed at the Alhamra Art Gallery, Lahore. The event was attended by more than 500 people. There were three categories in the contest monuments, architecture and the street life of walled city of Lahore. The first three winners in each category were awarded Rs. 100,000, Rs. 75,000 and Rs. 50,000 along with expensive gifts like microwave ovens and refrigerators provided by various sponsors. The overall best fifty shots were awarded with gift hampers. The photos were invited from the hobbyist and armature photographers from all over Pakistan.

Kamran Lashari (Director General WCLA): This is a yearly event of the Walled City of Lahore Authority and the aim is to create photo tourism and promote the walled city through photographs. This is one way of digitizing our heritage and intangible culture of the walled city of Lahore. I believe that youth are the best resource for gathering the photographs and social media the best tool for promoting it. We will also be printing a coffee table book of these photographs later on.

Asif Zaheer Director Marketing WCLA: This was an amazing event and we were not expecting this much over whelming response from the public. 453 photographs were displayed at the Alhamra Art Gallery, Lahore. we hope to beat our records in future.

Tania Qureshi Deputy Director Media & Marketing WCLA: This is a yearly event and I am happy that every year there is more response to this event. We hope to have a grander event next year and that too in Lahore Fort.

Nadeem Dar Judge WEKH LAHORE photo contest and exhibition:  It was a pleasure to be the judge of the event and it was no doubt a hard task for all of us to judge the photographs. The photographers have done a great job. I am also glad to see the number of photographers involved in this activity, it is a positive thing and this is the only way to promote our heritage and culture.

Arshad Ghori Judge WEKH LAHORE photo contest and exhibition: I have informed all the young photographers to work more hard for the next event. I have extended my support to all the youngsters for any training and help that they need in their work.

Abdul Rahim 1^st Winner WEKH LAHORE photo contest and exhibition: I am really happy to be the 1^st winner in the category of monuments. This is amazing that a government department is holding such lively events and giving cash prizes on the spot. This is a great initiative taken by the Walled City of Lahore Authority.

Umar Farooq1^st Winner WEKH LAHORE photo contest and exhibition: I was not expecting this prize; it was totally a surprise for me. I am glad on how the judgment was transparently done and almost everyone got a prize who participated in the contest. This is the best part that the younger lot was encouraged.