Student sells bags to buy his way through education

[Neo]

Student sells bags to buy his way through education ​

Thursday, May 15, 2008

The News: For how long are you selling bags in Karachi?

Banarus Khan: This is my 5th consecutive year in this business. I have just completed my Intermediate in science from Peshawar. A few years back, I was on a visit to Karachi when an idea to earn some money in the summer vacations without affecting my studies struck my mind. Later, I decided to sell bags (local and imported) in Karachi and for a start I took a rented cart for the business.

TN: Would you further pursue your studies?

BK: Definitely, after vacations I would return to Peshawar to continue studies as I do every year. For me my studies are everything. This is the foremost reason why I come to Karachi on summer vacations, to make money and buy books.

TN: How much do you earn during your each visit to Karachi?

BK: Every year I come to Karachi for 2 months or so. I make around Rs5,000 to Rs10,000 during each visit. Though I have a big family to support in Peshawar, I will still try to complete my education before starting any full-time job. I have 2 sisters and 5 brothers, except one brother all my siblings are younger than me and are studying in Peshawar.

TN: How many hours do you work in a day?

BK: My day starts at 8 am and ends after 10 pm.

TN: How many bags do you sell in a day?

BK: I usually sell around 10 to 12 bags in a day. However, sometimes these figures fall to 5 bags or so.

TN: You have local bags as well as Chinese bags, which are more popular?

BK: I deal in both local and imported Chinese bags, but sales wise both are equally popular. There is a huge difference in price and quality, Chinese bags are more expensive and are much better in quality. They are better than local bags in fabric and stitching. A normal Chinese travelling bag is being sold for Rs240, while a local bag much bigger in size is available for Rs180.

In May, June and July, schools are closed, which resultantly causes a decline in school bag sales, but the sales of travelling bags rise in the said period as inter-city travelling increases in the country.

TN: What are your future plans?

BK: I would first complete my masters, but unfortunately there are very limited opportunities in my home town. My friend had completed his masters in science, and got a job in a school with a package of just Rs2,000. This is very discouraging for students, and enough to cruelly shatter their dreams.

Student sells bags to buy his way through education

 

[Neo]

Heartwarming indeed!

I grew up in Europe where education is mostly free except for books. A working student is a very comon concept here, I too worked in weekends and evenings as a waiter, bartender, receptionist, enquettier etc for almost 7 years till I finished my studies.

But it would be disrespectfull to compare my youth to Banarus, I'm sure life is hard for a working student in Pakistan.

 

[PakistaniPatriot]

Man. I feel bad for this poor guy. He is poor and loves education so much. He is working really hard as the article shows and hopefully there is something good for him in the near future, InshAllah.

 

[BATMAN]

Imagine if such a chap had a family to feed and younger brothers and sisters to educate. In that case he even has to sacrifice his eduction and i know one such exact case.
Point is that, it is infect cases like these who bear the most toll of the selfishness of political heroes.

 

[kidwaibhai]

this is great story so uplifting. good job may allah give him success what ever he does because this surely deserves it.

 

[araz]

i am proud to call this great man my country man. The fact that rather than begging on the street, he has latched on to an idea and makes it work is testament to his hard work and mental capacity.
I too have a story to tell of a young girl who when she was 13 was sold to an older man as both her parents had died and the uncle/aunty could not support her. Fortunately she ran away and landed in Karachi in a shelter for runaway girls in Karachi run by some very reputable people. One of the directors has an old sister in law who is in her 80s but still quite active. This lady took on care of this young girl as most of her children have grown up and live separately. She gives this lady her medicines, does some cleaning and ironing for her in exchange for a suitable wage. Importantly, she gets treated as a member of the household, and has continued her education . The last I saw her, she was in Intermediate and doing well. She wants to be a doctor. I wish this courageous little girl all the luck in this world.
WaSalam
Araz

 

[Xeric]

Salute to this guy...may Allah bless him with all that he wants..he will be successful one day i know that...

 

[A.Rahman]

Man. I feel bad for this poor guy. He is poor and loves education so much. He is working really hard as the article shows and hopefully there is something good for him in the near future, InshAllah.

Over here everyone works & pays for tution, nothing new.

 

[UnitedPak]

Lol, its really not much different in Europe. You work during Education to pay for living costs and then come out with a ridiculous debt for the tuition fees.