“I started selling meal outside the excise and taxation office one year ago to eke out a living for my four daughters. I came here from Khanpur 16 years ago after my marriage. My husband was a taxi driver but due to bad companions he became a drug addict. I took him to a doctor for medical treatment but he was not willing to quit drug. For the last four years he is missing and nobody knows about his whereabouts.

I worked as a maid in private houses for 14 years but could not get enough money to manage education for my daughters. My elder daughter is studying in grade nine in a government school and the youngest is in the nursery. I got education till grade four only.

“It is my dream to give better education to my daughters so they do not go through the experience I have passed through. I cannot afford giving them dowry and want to provide them good education. My daughters are planning to start tuition to supplement my income. I come here with cooked meal every morning and sell it till the afternoon. In the evening, I purchase vegetables and pulses from the market and prepare the food for the next morning.

“I earn Rs300 to Rs500 daily which is not enough for my family. My mother is suffering from multiple diseases and is living with me and I also have to look after her. I had 12 siblings but two of them died. I always tried to help them in difficult times. One of my brothers is suffering from tuberculosis and is admitted to a hospital in Murree. If the government supports and provides me a stall at a permanent site it would be easy for me to earn for my family.”

Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2019