In a modest yet growing initiative, an Afghan refugee in Pakistan has launched an education center that provides free vocational training and language courses to fellow migrants, many of whom have been cut off from formal education and job opportunities.
The center, founded by Nusratullah, a native of Bamiyan Province, Afghanistan, offers instruction in tailoring, drawing, cosmetology, literacy, and both national and international languages. It specifically aims to support Afghan women and girls who have been denied access to school, as well as low-income families unable to afford private education.
“We created this center with a unified team to offer free courses in tailoring, painting, and languages,” Nusratullah said. “We now have branches in multiple cities, including Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Bhara Kahu, and Attock.”
The center currently supports more than 700 students, most of them Afghan refugees living in economically strained conditions. Many reside far from educational institutions and face additional barriers, such as limited legal status and social restrictions.
Anis Gul Shahikhil, one of the students enrolled in a tailoring course, said the program is already making a difference in her life. “We’ve been attending the course for three months. We’re now able to make clothes for our children and are planning to start a small business,” she said.
Another student, Nargis Yaqubi, said the center fills a critical gap. “As Afghan refugees, many of us are financially vulnerable and lack access to quality education. Having an institution like this is incredibly helpful.”
The center’s success comes at a time when Afghan refugees in Pakistan face growing uncertainty, including rising deportations and economic hardship. Yet in classrooms filled with sewing machines, pencils, and determined learners, the initiative offers a rare sense of purpose and hope.
