French photographer Sarah Caron had been covering the turbulent political situation in Pakistan for various international outlets since 2007, but she quickly became enamored with the country’s emerging fashion scene — and its associated symbolism.

Kaye Martindale and Geoff Brokate traveled through Pakistan for around eight months making portraits of local women, including young blogger Malala Yousafzai, a runner-up for Time’s Person of the Year 2012 award. She was hospitalized in October after being shot in the head by the Taliban.

Photographer Guy Calaf discovered Pakistan’s transgender community, or hijras, while working on an assignment about heroin addiction in Punjab. Although he wouldn’t necessarily call visiting hijras common practice, they have an established presence in South Asia.

Photographer Gary S. Chapman has been documenting the challenges faced by Christians in Pakistan since his first trip to the country in 2005. One of his visits came days after an angry mob of extremist Muslims torched Christian homes. At least seven people were shot to death or burned alive.