What this year meant for you: Word on the street

'I want to relive my sister’s wedding! We wore new clothes, ate good food,' says a street child.

Muhammad Fayaz, fruit vendor



“I lost my job in a factory this year as they were unable to pay us and I had to start selling fruit in a push cart. We had hoped that the electricity shortage would end this year and new businesses would flourish. Unfortunately, that did not happen and here I am.”

Iltimaz Khan, rickshaw driver



“I had to pull out two of my children from school as the claim of free education did not materialise this year either. That was my biggest loss.”

Nusrah Arbab, fashion apparel buyer



“I could relive my birthday. I didn’t have to organise a thing and got to spend a lot of time with my family.”

Saeed Khan, lecturer



“The killing of four members of the Bomb Disposal Unit in Peshawar was heartbreaking. Why have we become so immune towards human and material loss?”

Hamid Khan, tailor



“We were given hope that loadshedding would end and prices would go down once the new government was sworn in, but nothing has changed so far.”

Bibi Ayesha, street child



“I want to relive my sister’s wedding! We wore new clothes, ate good food and she looked beautiful.”

Zia Sheikh, retiree



“This year I had two life changing moments — I want to forget about the day my younger brother passed away and I want to relive the day my first grandson was born.”

Samina Niamat, saleswoman



“I met the love of my life this year for one day. I never saw him again — I would like to relive that day again and again.”

Muhammad Fasial, trader



“I managed to start my own business in 2013 after years of unemployment. Now, I hope that the law and order and power situation remains stable, so that business can flourish further.”

Umair Malik, aspiring entrepreneur



“I broke up with a very annoying girlfriend this year. Can I relive that day? Pure joy!”

Mumtaz Qayum, domestic help



“I would like to forget the day when my in-laws took away my three-year-old from me after my husband and I decided to split. I would love to relive the day he visited me five months later.”

Maham Khan, student



“I found £900 in a cab this year! Want to relive it again and again.”

Yasir Khan, doctor



“The record turnout in the elections and the new government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was the most memorable thing this year.”

Qurban Ahmed, driver



“I’d like to relive the day my wife gave birth to our fourth son. We knew our family was complete.”

Uzma Ahmed, pharmacist



“I want to go back in time for the historical tour I took in Paris with my husband this year. Best part was that I left the kids at home.”

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, December 29^th, 2013.