Wiki Loves Monuments: Top 10 pictures from Pakistan are here!

By Saqib Qayyum Choudhry

If you've ever tried looking for free photos of Pakistan’s cultural heritage sites online, you will know how hard it can be. Despite their large number, these sites have never been photographed under a free license.

This year, Wikimedia Foundation, the California-based non-profit organisation 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. It documents all of the world’s cultural heritage under a free license.

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.

From Pakistan, more than 700 contestants from across the country submitted over 12,000 photographs, 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.

While the national and international winners are still to be announced, Pakistan’s jury has selected the country’s top 10 photographs to be sent over to the international stage.

Enjoy these mesmerising glimpses into a Pakistan steeped in culture and tradition, and architectural beauty.

Tomb of Jahangir in Lahore. —Photographed by Sohaib Tahir

Tomb of Dai Anga in Lahore. —Photographed by Muhammad Ashar

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

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

Wazir Khan Mosque in Lahore. —Photographed by Shagufta Karim

Noor Mahal in Bahawalpur. —Photographed by Muhammad Ashar

Shah Jahan Mosque in Thatta. —Photographed by Ovais Waraich