Shah provides transportation to school for more than 100 schoolgirls from his community.
He thinks that the largest barrier to women’s education in his area is transportation.
PESHAWAR: Arab Shah was unable to provide for his five sisters when they were old enough to attend school. He now operates an autorickshaw and dedicates his time and meager resources to ensuring that other people’s daughters and sisters receive a quality education.
The 29-year-old rickshaw driver transports schoolgirls from his village to Pir Bala, which is on the outskirts of Peshawar.
While cleaning his car and preparing for work on Tuesday, he told Arab News, “I regret not being able to support my sisters in their schooling.” “I want to use my money, time, and possessions to help the underprivileged girls in my village get an education in order to feel spiritually fulfilled.
By renting an autorickshaw for Rs5,000 a month, Shah provides free transportation to and from school for more than 100 schoolgirls in his community.
Kashmala Ilyas, an eighth-grader, thinks that “bhaijan” (elder brother) Shah is a blessing. Her father is a watchman at a marble plant. She claimed that she had been allowed to attend school without any delays for the previous three years without having to pay a single rupee.
Shah began in 2014, but his family wasn’t really excited. Now that he is a village hero, however, and his older brothers have assumed charge of the home, he is free to carry on with his voluntary work. “I bring my mom to school and madrassa events, and she gets messages of appreciation, which makes her happy,” he remarked.
Shah first just provided free school transportation to three of his less fortunate neighbors, but he quickly discovered that many more were in need of it or would not be able to go to school at all. He now begins his day with a number of school excursions at 7:00 a.m. He works as a normal driver to pay for gas and his rickshaw rent when the kids are in school. He drives his young passengers home in the afternoon after picking them up. When some of them have to spend their after-school hours at a nearby madrassa, They may depend on him as well.
Shah returns to the streets of Peshawar after all the youngsters have finished their lessons to ensure he can make enough money to maintain the rickshaw.
In Peshawar on August 6, 2019, Zia Ullah Bangash, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s education adviser at the time, presents Arab Shah with a recognition award. (Image source: Arab Shah.)
“The fluctuating fuel prices are getting harder to handle, so I work until late at night,” he stated.
According to Shah, the largest barrier to women’s education in his area is transportation. He expressed his desire that one day he will be able to purchase a larger car so that he may accomplish more. “It hurts me when girls stop going to school after eighth grade,” he remarked.
Since her daughter recently finished religious classes, Shah’s frequent companion, Misri Khan, often remembers him in her prayers. In Peshawar on August 6, 2019, Zia Ullah Bangash, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s education adviser at the time, presents Arab Shah with a recognition award. (Image source: Arab Shah.)
“The fluctuating fuel prices are getting harder to handle, so I work until late at night,” he stated.
According to Shah, the largest barrier to women’s education in his area is transportation. He expressed his desire that one day he will be able to purchase a larger car so that he may accomplish more. “It hurts me when girls stop going to school after eighth grade,” he remarked.
Since her daughter recently finished religious classes, Shah’s frequent companion, Misri Khan, often remembers him in her prayers.
Without the dedication of Arab Shah, it would not be feasible. We offer our prayers for him to purchase a larger car and assist the underprivileged in the community.
