#MiaKhan: Twitterati hail Afghan father dedicated to educating his daughters

I'm illiterate... but my daughters’ education is valuable to me as there's no female doctor in our area, says Mia Khan

#MiaKhan has become the top trend on Twitter in Pakistan as users of the microblogging site lauded an Afghan resident for bending over backwards to ensure his daughters have access to education.

Khan, who is a dedicated father and a resident of central Sharana in Afghanistan’s Paktika province, travels 12 kilometres on his motorbike everyday to take his daughters to school, according to the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA).

He then waits outside the school for hours until the dismissal bell rings to take them back home.

Afghanistan is blighted by women being denied their right to education as traditional values trump one of their inalienable rights.

For Khan, however, this is a part of his daily routine.

“I am illiterate, and I live on daily wage, but my daughters’ education is very valuable to me because there is no female doctor in our area," he said.

Daood Salman, a Twitter user, said that "some heroes don't wear capes" and lauded how despite Khan being illiterate, he wants his daughters to become the first lady doctor in the village.

Some heroes don't wear caps, just like Mia Khan who takes his daughter on 12km motorcycle ride to school daily, and waits there for 4 hours untill class ends, because even though he's uneducated, he wants his daughter to become his village's first lady doctor.👏❤️ pic.twitter.com/9APj6WFzxp

— 𝐃𝐒.𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥(🇵🇰)𝑆𝑆𝐴 (@DaoodSalman5) December 4, 2019

"It is my greatest desire to educate my daughters like my sons,” he told the international non-governmental organisation working in the country.

Khan is one of several residents of his village eager to educate their children, irrespective of gender.

His three daughters study at the Nooraniya School for Girls, which is run by the SCA.

One of his daughters, Rozi, said: “[I'm] so happy that I study. I am in grade six this year. My dad or brother brings us on a motorcycle every day to the school and when we leave, he brings us home again".

Inamullah, another user, saluted Khan for travelling so far so to take his daughters to school. "This Pushtun father is a real hero and an example to all."

This Pushtun father is a real hero and an example to all.Mia Khan takes his daughter 12km on his motorcycle to school daily and waits 4 hours till his daughter’s class ends. He’s uneducated himself and wants his daughter to be a doctor as there is none in their Village
Salute you pic.twitter.com/iZJvvn0NG5

— INAMULLAH UMAR (@I_inamullahumar) December 4, 2019

Two of Khan’s daughters are in sixth grade and the third is in fifth grade.

The father said he opted for the school because 'it provides quality education'.

There are 220 girls currently studying up to sixth grade at Nooraniya and it is one of hundreds of such schools set up by SCA in Paktika, with the majority of students being girls.