- Rukhsana and her inspiring journey from being a dedicated teacher with 19 years of experience to becoming a roadside vendor in Karachi due to financial hardships.
- Insufficient teacher salaries, coupled with rising inflation and escalating expenses, led Rukhsana to the difficult decision of running a roadside stall to make ends meet.
- Rukhsana’s resilience in facing financial challenges and seeking inspiration from fellow educators’ stories, like ‘Umer Kamal’ in Islamabad, highlights the need for reforms in ensuring fair compensation for teachers.
In Pakistan, teachers often face multiple challenges stemming from insufficient salaries. Rukhsana, a determined educator, with an experience of over 19 years of teaching has now found herself compelled to teach during the day and run a stall in the evening, all in the bustling city of Karachi, just to make ends meet.
What Led Rukhsana to Turn to Road-Side Selling?
The prevailing low salaries for teachers across the country stand as a primary driver in making Rukhsana take this difficult decision. The inadequate wages she earns during the morning has failed to keep up with the rising inflation and escalating expenses that are a reality for most households.
As costs surge, basic necessities become more unattainable for teachers like Rukhsana who have a family to feed too. The recent surge in expenditures in the city of lights has made life difficult for all, with the rising costs of standard of living, many people are left hand-to-mouth by the end of the month.
In the video shared by Times of Karachi, Rukhsana shares her hardships and talks about the rising expenditures that have led her to put up a stall for an extra income.
The rising inflation coupled with low salary brackets for teachers and an added burden of exorbitant electricity bills further exacerbates the financial strain. The energy crisis in Pakistan has led to soaring electricity costs, impacting not only households but also small businesses.
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The Journey from Teacher to Road Vendor
With over 19 years of teaching experience, Rukhsana sought help from one of her previous students. He helped her set up a stall outside his play area where she now puts up a stall every day in the evening after her coming back from her day job.
She believes working hard and earning money the right way is not bad, no job is too small for anyone. She further shares that the viral video of a teacher, ‘Umer Kamal’ in Islamabad who resorted to selling Biryani inspired her to take action and do something to make ends meet for herself and her family. After this she decided to sell small items from jewellery, accessories to other small household items at her stall to help out her husband with the household expenses.
For Rukhsana, the need to open a stall in the evening is a testament to the creativity and resilience she must muster to navigate this challenging landscape.
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In a country where education is highly valued, the plight of teachers like Rukhsana underscores the urgent need for reforms that ensure fair compensation and improved living conditions. As educators dedicate themselves to shaping the future of young minds, it becomes imperative for society and policymakers to address the root causes of their struggles, ensuring that their dedication is met with respect, support, and financial stability.
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