Sadiq Baloch is one of the many truck drivers in Pakistan who enjoys decorating his truck.
On his truck, Sadiq proudly displays a blown-up picture of Mahmood Khan Achakzai – a prominent political figure from his home province of Balochistan.
He told CGTN's Assignment Asia: “We try our best to make our truck better than others. We often compare our trucks. Everyone wants his truck to be the best. We decorate our trucks for the same reasons people wear good clothes, buy new shoes, and eat good food.”
The tradition of painting and decorating trucks is said to have its roots dating back to the 1920s where artisans made horse-drawn carriages for nobility.
Finely carved and painted – the artists from Eastern Punjab who worked on them – were themselves descendants of those who decorated many grand palaces and temples during the Mughal Empire.
When it comes to modern-day truck art, their basic rule is "the flashier, the better."
Many truck owners come up with their own designs, using metal, tinsel, plastic and reflective tape to build upon the basic wood and paint.
A truck painting /CGTN Photo
The most detailed truck art can cost as much as two million rupees, or over 19,000 U.S. dollars to decorate.
Assignment Asia is CGTN’s award-winning current affairs program featuring long-form stories and documentaries on some of the most pressing issues in the region. The show airs Saturdays at 1330 and 2130 GMT, with replays every Sunday at 0630, Monday at 0130, and Tuesday at 0530.