In pursuit of greatness: Student sells dust-cloth, garlands to meet educational expenses

Tuition centre in the morning, school in the evening and a vendor by night

ISLAMABAD: Naveedullah Khan is a young kid who has taken on practical and emotional caring responsibilities normally expected from adults.

A grade-three student at a private school in Rawalpindi Fauji Colony, he has been selling dust-cloth for the last two years to bear his educational expenses.

“I am making all these efforts because I want to become a doctor,” said Khan in a strong Pashtu accent and with an innocent smile.

“I am aware that my parents cannot afford my educational expenses,” he added.  His two elder brothers also do the same while his father is a daily wage worker at Islamabad Sabzi Mandi.

The Afghan boy resides in a small mud house with his parents and four elder siblings in the Sector I-11 Katchi Abadi.



While sharing his daily routine, Khan said he gets up around 6am in the morning, and after having breakfast leaves for the tuition centre and returns by noon. After an hour’s break he goes to school, and gets back at 6pm.

Following either a half hour nap or playing time with friends, he moves towards the Pirwadhai T-junction to do his job till midnight.

He is not alone in his efforts to achieve his aspirations.

There are hundreds of thousands like him who continue to be deprived of basic necessities.

Khan wants to top in his class but fulfilling that dream appears a tough task given his hectic schedule.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25^th, 2015.