Salman Baloch — The Guardian of Malir’s Natural Beauty
Shariq Ali
Valueversity
Amid Karachi’s rapidly expanding population, the spreading jungle of concrete, and the constant mechanical noise, anyone seeking silence, beauty, and the heartbeat of life should look through the lens of Salman Baloch. This young naturalist, photographer, and environmental activist is today the most authentic voice of Malir’s greenery, its breathing earth, and its astonishing hidden wildlife.
Salman’s journey is not merely a journey of photography — it is a continuous struggle to observe, understand, and preserve the fragile beauty of the environment. Malir’s sandy soil, flowing streams, small farmlands, rows of trees, and the flight of birds are all very close to his heart. He not only captures them with his camera but also brings to light, with intensity and clarity, the growing threats they face.
His camera has documented landscapes stretching from the Karachi coast to Lasbela, Nushki, Kharan, Islamabad’s Margalla Hills, Neelum Valley, and Thatta. From the silver wings of birds to the delicate fluttering of butterflies, Salman approaches every creature with respect and photographs it with affection.
But his real battle is the protection of Malir’s environment.
Malir is a region that, for centuries, has given Karachi its greenery, water, and life. Today, this very region is being wounded by major highways, concrete megaprojects, and expanding industrial activity. Projects like the Malir Expressway are slowly weakening its agricultural essence. Salman Baloch highlights these threats and continues this struggle through social media, interviews, and public discourse.
To him, photography is not just an art — it is testimony.
Testimony of the land, testimony of the birds, and testimony of our responsibility to the future.
Salman’s photographs remind us that if we fail to protect our soil and water, future generations will only see in pictures that Karachi once had green landscapes. He is not just a photographer — he is the guardian of Malir and a chronicler who is preserving the truth of his time.
If you wish to understand the true spirit of Malir, to hear the language of its birds, and to feel the fragrance of its earth, then listening to Salman Baloch is essential.