Breaking barriers: Taste worth a thousand words

Hearing impairment does not stop Sheraz and Mohsin

ISLAMABAD: Owning a kiosk in a small market in I-8, two street vendors with a simple slogan “Lets break barriers – If we can learn your language, so can you”, prove that entrepreneurship begins at the grass root level.

Sheraz and Mohsin, both lack the ability to hear but have never let the disability become a hurdle between them and their work. With the right attitude and passion for their work, the young entrepreneurs have managed to get people come for seconds.

Under the guidance of Faizan Sheikh, the Co Founder of Pakistan Youth Federation of Deaf and Hard of Hearing, they opened a small roadside takeaway with the name of “Abey Khao” in Mughal Market in I-8/1.

The menu board is simple with six items – crispy chicken drumsticks, chicken cheese sambosa, potato swirl, twisted donuts (Korean style), cheesy chicken croquettes and mac n sausage sambosa. The most interesting and rather impressive thing about Abey Khao’s menu board is that it has simple hand signs for every entrée on the menu to make it easy for people to order and Mohsin and Sheraz to understand.

The idea is not just fascinating and inspiring but their service is equally remarkable – their food tastes delicious; the drumsticks are delectable, appetising and crisp as one would expect freshly fried drumsticks to be. The twisted Korean-style donut is an interesting take on donuts that even bakeries haven’t explored yet and the mac and sausage sambosa is probably the most unique samosa you will find in the market.



Everything on the menu is extremely affordable with the priciest item (drumsticks) at Rs75 and even the donuts moderately priced at Rs25 making their food reasonable and affordable for the masses. Another inspiring aspect of their kiosk is their cleanliness. Sheraz and Mohsin both make sure the food is hygienic.

Sheikh Faizan, an A level student and Co Founder of Pakistan Youth Federation of Deaf and Hard of Hearing told The Express Tribune that he met Mohsin and Sheraz while they were a part of PYFDH. “I founded the organisation because I am Hard of Hearing too and our objective is to reduce dependency and financial constraints faced by Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth”, he said.

Mohsin and Sheraz are not only innovative entrepreneurs but also revolutionaries who are breaking stereotypes in the society. While a majority of the youth is constantly looking for excuses to not work and look at even the mildest of disability or hurdle as an excuse to give up, Mohsin and Sheraz are leaving no stone unturned to ensure they don’t give up and do well in their business.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2016.