“My family is from Waziristan. I received my early education from Bannu before I went on for a course in sculpting and calligraphy at the National College for Arts.

After I was done with by bachelors, I started work in Karachi in an advertisement firm and would make boards and hoardings for them. I worked for the company five years and then decided to start my own business.

I moved my family from Karachi in 2012 when the law and order situation worsened. I sold everything and we came here.

Now I work from home and sell my artworks on my website and on Facebook.

Exhibitions in venues such as Lok Virsa also help and sometimes I display my works alongside roads.

There are designated spaces for artists around the world, but not in Islamabad, even though it is the capital of the country. Renting shops here is very expensive.

“There should be a designated space for artists, like there are flower shops, so we also have easy access to the market.”

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2018