Written by Sabahat Sarwar
Karachi is not just a city it is a heartbeat. A city that never sleeps, a hub of opportunities, a home for millions. It is a city of speed, a city of struggle and a city of survival. Beneath its endless rush, beneath the honking horns and the busy streets, Karachi hides countless unheard stories—stories of ordinary men with extraordinary strength, stories of people who live with dignity, who earn with honesty and who continue to inspire in silence.
One such story belongs to Safar Ali. At 65 years of age, with a disability in his legs that has been with him since childhood, Safar Ali’s journey is anything but ordinary. Today, he is known as a newspaper seller in one corner of Karachi but very few know that he once worked as a private teacher and that he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics. Even fewer know that this humble seller of newspapers is educated, fluent in English and deeply aware of the world around him.
For the past 30 years, Safar Ali has been selling newspapers an occupation that many might dismiss as simple or outdated in today’s digital age But for him, it is not just a livelihood, it is a reflection of his resilience. Every morning, before the break of dawn after offering Fajr prayers, he makes his way to the depot, collects the stack of newspapers and takes them to the place where he sits for the rest of the day. Sometimes he sells out completely, sometimes he waits for hours, even an entire day, without a single buyer. Yet, he sits there patiently, waiting, hoping, believing.
In a world where news travels in seconds through smartphones, he strongly believes that the value of newspapers still exists. “People who love reading whether books, novels, or newspapers never let go of the habit,” he says. Though sales have dropped compared to 30 years ago, he insists that the addiction to the printed word still lives on. For some, the rustling of newspaper pages, the smell of fresh print, the act of reading with their own hands is irreplaceable.
Safar Ali’s story is not about fame, nor about wealth. It is about dignity. It is about hard work. It is about the quiet strength of a man who, despite disability, despite changing times, continues to live with patience and honesty. His life reminds us that behind every face we pass on the streets of Karachi, there is a story waiting to be told a story of dreams, of sacrifices, of survival.
He believes that the habit of reading can never truly disappear. Even in today’s digital age, he insists that countless people still find joy in holding a book or a newspaper in their hands. For him, reading is not just a pastime it is a lifelong addiction, a source of knowledge and a means of personal growth. He strongly feels that social media, with all its speed cannot provide the same depth that a newspaper offers. “A newspaper gives detail, language, and context,” he explains. “It builds vocabulary, widens perspective, and tells stories that social media often reduces to a headline or a passing trend.”
At the age of 65, despite his physical challenges, Safar Ali continues to work tirelessly, earning an honest livelihood and living with dignity. His message to the younger generation is simple yet profound: cultivate the habit of reading and writing. He believes it is an investment that never loses its value. Reading sharpens the mind, writing strengthens expression and both preserve wisdom across generations. “Just as there are readers who hunger for words,” he says, “there will always be writers who fuel that hunger with meaningful stories. Reading is not just a habit it is the finest hobby, one that shapes the soul.
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