Teachers were traditionally awarded a high status in society, commanding respect wherever they went. Today, public perception about Pakistan’s teachers is overwhelmingly negative.

While some of this perception may be grounded in reality, there are still hundreds of thousands of teachers who continue to work against the odds to provide a decent education to Pakistani children.

Alif Ailaan presents the stories of inspirational teachers indelible mark on not only the system but the students they encountered during their journey.


Farzana Sial: A story of change


Being a teacher in the underprivileged communities of Pakistan can bring unexpected challenges.

'Brick in Each Hand' is the story of Farzana Sial, a heroic teacher, for whom no challenge is insurmountable when it comes to ensuring a brighter future for her students. Driven by her commitment to teaching and her passion for her students, she successfully took on a landlord bent on shutting down her school.

The film showcases how one woman’s struggles and perseverance gradually transformed the attitude of an entire community towards education. Farzana is now a principal at a local school in Khairpur.

Editorial

Updated 10 Aug, 2026

Genuine governance

ON the surface, the Punjab cabinet’s decision to allocate funds for local government elections is a welcome step...
10 Aug, 2026

Failed by the state

THE 1,914 cases of child abuse across Pakistan in the first six months of 2026 should spark outrage. The figure ...
10 Aug, 2026

HIV crisis

PAKISTAN’s presence among countries with the fastest-growing HIV epidemic in Asia is a matter of shame. Globally,...
Updated 09 Aug, 2026

Makkah agreement

IN the midst of a gruelling war between the US and Iran — currently at a stalemate — the signing of the Makkah...
09 Aug, 2026

Conflicting priorities

THERE is a reasonable argument that the democratic process must go on regardless of prevailing conditions; that...
09 Aug, 2026

FIFA controversy

FIFA PRESIDENT Gianni Infantino is at the centre of a storm of his own making. Even after a crisis meeting in...