TOBA TEK SINGH: Imran Asim is defying disability by keeping himself busy with his rent-a-book business.

Mr Asim, 38, of the Eidgah locality, was in grade five when he suffered backbone pain. In the ensuing surgery, his both legs were paralysed. He had to leave the school, but he did not leave book reading.

As books became his best friends, he thought of an idea to earn money from renting books to the people in his neighbourhood. Side by side, he began binding books, mostly textbooks of area students.

He says he charges Rs20 per book for a day. He said when he started his library, he was encouraged by his father Haji Abdullah, brothers and sisters.

His library has a good collection of books on fiction, religion, history and literature.

When he began the library years ago, Mr Asim says, he used to have lots of customers. Still his dedicated customers keep coming to him whenever there were new arrivals. He said he had the mission to continue the library till his last breath. His is the only library in the area as there is no other government or private library.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2016