Pakistan Fashion Week

As Pakistan's army battled religious extremists in South Waziristan, Karachi's top designers sent models down catwalks with bare shoulders and exposed navels in an unusual display of skin in a country where most women cover up.

Islamabad, Nov 8 Defying hardliners and the Taliban, models clad in off-shoulder and backless gowns wowed audiences during Pakistan's first fashion week, which was "bigger, better and sexier" than anything seen before.

According to the Press Trust of India, "The Karachi Fashion Week, which was postponed twice because of security fears, finally got underway last week with 30 top models sashaying down the ramp in short, off-shoulder and midriff showing dresses designed by the country's top 30 designers.

The venue of the four-day event -- Marriott Hotel -- was guarded by the paramilitary Pakistan Rangers.

The local media boosted the morale of organisers by praising them defying the diktats of terrorism.

In a country where most women cover up and observe varying degrees of Islamic dress, the fashion event was daring."