North Sea to North-West Frontier

North Sea to North-West Frontier is a candid insight into 'normal' everyday life for people in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and into their spectacular country.

It offers a glimpse of unique places, secretive events and strange traditions while eavesdropping upon the behaviors and idiosyncrasies that Pakistanis display in their own diverse country. The observations are portrayed in a series of short true stories that span the entire spectrum from funny and fascinating to sad and confronting.

The narrative begins in the Author's formative years as an Oil Rig Geologist in the UK North Sea. Events during that time led to lengthy expatriate assignments in the petroleum industry in Pakistan and to the Author's extensive travels within the country.

The book reveals the extraordinary diversity and beauty of Pakistan's countryside from the sandy beaches along the Indian Ocean, through its stark and inhospitable southern deserts, remote glaciated northern valleys, the lawless Tribal Areas of the North-West Frontier Province, and ultimately to the highest point at the Chinese border in the high Karakoram Mountains.

While in Pakistan the Author developed a profound passion for the country and insightful connections with its diverse folks. Accordingly the Author has endeavored to paint an honest and sharply contrasting picture from the terrorism, poverty, and civil unrest still portrayed in the media more than a decade since the events of 9/11.

The principal aim of the book therefore is to redress the balance.

Script and images are used to assist the first time visitor to prepare for their initial experiences in Pakistan; shocking and wonderful. Seasoned expatriates that have lived and worked there will without doubt recount their own precious, comical and frustrating times. The book will resonate for Pakistani Nationals by celebrating the extraordinary beauty and friendliness in their country while in a frank way confronting the significant social and reputational challenges facing Pakistan as its visibility continues to increase on a very discerning contemporary World stage.