They say the mother earth is healing because of COVID-19—less air pollution, the better ozone layer, cleaner rivers, and less trash. All very good news. Except there are some whose living depends on trash! Meet Faiz Ullah Ishaqzai (left) and Sardar Wali Ishaqzai (right) who are twin brothers of age 17. They are from Quetta, … Read more
12 April 2020. Lockdown: Day 22 in Karachi, Pakistan. On normal days, Empress Market is one of the busiest places in Karachi. Today, it is deserted. Despite the lockdown, some women still take the risk to come here every day with the hope to make a living by selling dry fruit. Every daily wager worker … Read more
“Garma lena hai bhai? 80 rupay kilo hey! (Do you want to buy sweet melons, brother? They are 80 Rupees/kilo!)” I turn left and see Shafiq smiling at me. His cart is full of yellow ripe melons that are shining in the soft evening light. “How is lockdown going?” I ask him. “Bhai, na poocho … Read more
“This lockdown has broken my back. Nowadays, I hardly earn 100–150 rupees. I have five children. You tell me how can I feed them? I can drive for a few hours and the police wouldn’t let me go very far. Today, I dropped my first passenger at Regal Chowk and was happy that I earned … Read more
“Mama, Mama, chawal dey do! (Uncle, uncle, give me rice!)” the kid pleads through the van window. The driver shifts into the reverse gear and turns the steering. Akhuwat’s white van swerves to the right, pushing children away but they somehow latch onto the window frame. “Why don’t you give him one rice meal?” I … Read more
A couple of months ago, a friend took me to the Business Network International event in San Fransisco Bay Area where everybody gathered for networking. Someone came up to me and asked, “what business do you do?” “None!” I replied. “Do you work for someone then?” “No. I don’t!” “Do you plan to start something … Read more
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