Mansehra News Daily

Mansehra/Oghi. In a small workshop on the edge of Oghi, 27-year-old Muhammad Adeel starts every morning surrounded by oily tools, used spare parts, and half-repaired motorcycles. What many people see as scrap, he sees as opportunity.

For the past few months, Adeel has been converting old motorcycles into simple, durable work vehicles for traders, farmers, and delivery workers across the Mansehra region.

The idea began when a neighbor wanted to sell his old motorcycle because it was no longer considered worth repairing. Adeel took the bike apart, repaired the engine, strengthened the rear frame, and added a small cargo platform. A few days later, the neighbor was using it again to transport fruit crates to the local market.

“Many people here cannot afford a new vehicle,” Adeel said. “But often, an old motorcycle only needs some work before it becomes useful again.”

Customers now come to his workshop from Oghi, Shinkiari, and even Balakot. His conversions are especially popular among milk suppliers, vegetable sellers, and mobile craftsmen. Adeel keeps the vehicles simple, avoiding expensive parts and unnecessary technology so they can be repaired easily in small local workshops.

One of his best-known vehicles is now used by an elderly tea seller near Mansehra. In the past, he carried his equipment by hand or hired transport when he could. Today, he travels from village to village on a converted motorcycle fitted with a small stove, water containers, tea kettles, and cups.

Adeel does not describe his work as a major invention. For him, it is about practical solutions for everyday life. Still, he hopes to expand his workshop and train two young men from the area.

“There are many skilled people in Mansehra,” he said. “You do not always need big factories. Sometimes, a good idea, tools, and someone willing to work are enough.”

For many customers, Adeel’s workshop has already become more than a repair shop. It is an example of how local craftsmanship can help people become more independent — with simple means and direct value for daily life.

Mansehra. In a quiet village outside Mansehra, retired schoolteacher Abdul Rahman has turned one room of his home into a small evening classroom for children who need extra support with their studies.

Every day after Asr prayer, children from nearby houses arrive with notebooks, schoolbags, and worn textbooks. Some sit on benches, others on mats spread across the floor. There is no school sign outside, no formal registration, and no fee.

Rahman, now 64, began the classes after noticing that many children in the area were struggling with basic reading, writing, and mathematics. Some had missed school because of family responsibilities. Others attended school regularly but needed more attention than crowded classrooms could provide.

“I spent my life teaching,” Rahman said. “After retirement, I did not want to sit idle. If a child learns to read properly, it can change the direction of his whole life.”

The evening classes started with only three students. Today, more than 20 children come regularly. Rahman teaches Urdu, English, mathematics, and basic general knowledge. Older students help younger ones, especially during exam season.

Parents in the village say the classes have made a visible difference. Several children who once avoided schoolwork now complete their homework with more confidence. Some have improved their exam results within just a few months.

One mother said her son used to struggle with reading English sentences. “Now he reads signboards and small paragraphs by himself,” she said. “For us, this is a big thing.”

Rahman does not ask for money, but villagers sometimes bring tea, notebooks, pencils, or firewood during winter. He says that is enough.

His next goal is to collect more books and create a small corner library for the children. He believes many students in rural areas do not lack intelligence, but lack guidance and regular support.

In a region where many families face financial pressure, Rahman’s small classroom has become a quiet example of community service — simple, local, and deeply practical.

Mansehra. A small bookstall near Mansehra’s main market has become a regular stop for students preparing for board exams, entry tests, and government job applications.

The stall is run by 46-year-old Imran Shah, who has sold books, notebooks, newspapers, and stationery in the same area for more than 18 years. What began as a modest roadside setup has slowly turned into a familiar place for students looking for affordable study material.

According to Shah, demand has changed noticeably in recent years. While school textbooks and notebooks remain common purchases, more young people now ask for exam preparation guides, past papers, English grammar books, and basic computer knowledge material.

Several students visit the stall after college hours to check new arrivals or ask which books are useful for upcoming exams. Shah says he often keeps second-hand copies as well, because many families cannot afford new books every time.

One college student from the area said the stall is useful because it saves time and money. “If we go to bigger cities, it costs more. Here we can find basic material locally,” he said.

Shah believes that education remains one of the strongest priorities for families in Mansehra, even where income is limited. Parents may delay other purchases, he says, but many still try to buy books for their children.

The stall owner now hopes to expand his collection with more books on English speaking, computer skills, and competitive exam preparation. He also wants to create a small section for used books, where students can sell or exchange study material.

“For many students, even one good book can make a difference,” Shah said. “If they find the right material at the right time, it helps them prepare better.”

In a busy market filled with shops, vendors, and traffic, the small bookstall remains a quiet reminder that local businesses can still play an important role in education.

Mansehra. As the new school term approaches, a small tailoring shop in Mansehra’s main bazaar has become busy with parents bringing fabric, measurements, and old uniforms for repair.

The shop is run by 41-year-old Nadeem Iqbal, who has worked as a tailor for nearly two decades. During most of the year, he stitches shalwar kameez, trousers, waistcoats, and simple daily wear. But before the school season begins, his work changes almost completely.

For several weeks, school uniforms become his main business. Parents come with lists from schools, asking for shirts, trousers, dupattas, belts, and minor alterations. Some bring older uniforms from elder children and ask him to adjust them for younger siblings.

“Many families try to save money where they can,” Iqbal said. “If an old uniform can be repaired or resized, it helps them.”

According to local parents, rising costs have made tailoring decisions more practical. Some prefer buying ready-made uniforms, while others say stitched uniforms last longer and fit better. Iqbal says both options have customers, but many families still trust local tailors for proper fitting.

One father at the shop said he brought two old uniforms for alteration instead of buying new ones. “Children grow fast, and everything is expensive now,” he said. “If the tailor can make it usable again, that is better.”

The busy season also creates temporary work for young helpers, who assist with cutting threads, ironing clothes, and delivering finished uniforms to nearby homes.

Iqbal says he hopes to expand the shop slowly, but for now he is focused on completing orders before schools reopen.

In Mansehra’s crowded bazaar, his small shop reflects a common reality: local trades survive by adapting to the seasonal needs of ordinary families.