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Progress of Man Series -visual series documenting Lahore’s quiet transformation

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by

Usama Ahmed
in

“Progress of Man” is a visual series by Usama Ahmed documenting Lahore’s quiet transformation—from fertile farmland to concrete sprawl, and from self-sustaining communities to displaced livelihoods. It invites reflection on what we call progress, and what we leave behind.

This view is part of the Progress of Man series, in which I set out to show how the housing industry is directly contributing to environmental degradation in and around Lahore. This video showcases the brick kilns operating around the city to meet the massive demand from the construction industry. Even in a small vicinity, you can see how many of these kilns are active. There are alternatives available—options that are far less harmful to the environment. But real change will only come if we, the builders, planners, homeowners, construction business owners, and architects, choose to care for the environment. Greed for wealth must not blind us into exploiting our land, rivers, and ecosystem in ways that cause irreversible harm. If you care about the environment and are curious about how to build homes that are cost-effective, livable, and environmentally responsible, visit https://commune.pk to connect with others who share your vision.
This view is part of the Progress of Man series, in which I set out to show how the housing industry is directly contributing to environmental degradation in and around Lahore. This video shows how, in just 30 years, prime agricultural land in Lahore has been consumed by unchecked real estate growth. The data was taken from Google Maps archives and played in a fast loop to demonstrate the rapid transformation that occurred over just a few decades. There are alternatives available—options that are far less harmful to the environment. But real change will only come if we, the builders, planners, homeowners, construction business owners, and architects, choose to care for the environment. Greed for wealth must not blind us to the point where we exploit our land, rivers, and ecosystems in ways that cause irreversible harm.

Usama Ahmed

Usama is a computer science graduate from FAST who later found his way into architecture and design through a Master’s in Visual Arts from the National College of Arts, Lahore. He also briefly pursued an MBA at LUMS before his interests shifted toward more grounded, community-focused work. He runs a software company, Esipick, and advises RIZQ’s Housing Innovation Lab, where he supports its partnership with Yasmeen Lari’s Heritage Foundation — helping build over 150 homes for underserved communities. He founded Commune.pk as a platform for research and advisory on sustainable living.

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