Media Studies
Life on the road - Street Children in Pakistan
Afshin Khan ('11)
Abstract: Approximately 1.2 million children
roam the streets of Pakistan doing menial jobs
such as cleaning windscreens of cars on road
intersections, selling newspapers, magazines, and
flower bouquets. Children are turning to the streets
amidst increasing poverty, unemployment,
swelling family size and social disintegration seen
in abuse in schools, as well as domestic violence,
neglect and family breakdown. Undoubtedly, they
have become the country's largest and most
ostracized social group. 'Life on the road' is a
documentary that explores the life of these
children on the streets of Karachi, at major road
intersections, and in narrow lanes where they pick
up garbage. Having learned life lessons at a tender
age, most of them realize the importance of
education and some have managed to continue
their pursuit of knowledge while at the same time
contributing financially to their families and
households. There are some who appear hopeless
and imagine living and earning
Funding provided by The Draper Center, Asian
Studies Program Summer Research Grant