65-year-old breaks barriers, joins school

In a remarkable display of determination, Dilawar Khan, a 65-year-old resident of Dir Upper, has etched his name in history by enrolling in the first grade of a local primary school with the sole purpose of mastering the skills of reading and writing.

Despite the significant age gap between him and most of his classmates, who are even younger than his own grandchildren, Dilawar Khan’s presence initially raised eyebrows among the children.

However, as time passed, a heartening transformation unfolded. “Dilawar Khan, hailing from a financially struggling family in Dir Upper district, had to forego the luxury of a formal education in his youth to support his family.

Yet, his passion for learning endured,” revealed a local resident while talking to The Express Tribune. Recently Dilawar Khan seized the opportunity to revive his childhood dream by enrolling in Government Primary School Khongai to embark on the journey of learning to read and write.

“As a devout Muslim, I believe it is our responsibility to seek knowledge, and I firmly believe that age is merely a number, not a formidable barrier in this pursuit,” remarked Dilawar. Undeterred by the age disparity, he attends school each morning, aligning himself with the punctuality of his younger classmates.