Behind the promise of a British degree lies a harsh reality: endless shifts, mounting debt, silent desperation
Photo courtesy: Ismail Khan
Every year, thousands of young Pakistanis head to Britain on student visas. For many, higher education isn’t really the goal. It’s a desired but desperate route to become and be seen as a credible man. A degree at home guarantees jobs for a lucky few. For others, it does open a door to escape. But behind that dream of greener pastures, there’s a life of "tension": getting soaked delivering takeaways in the rain, long hours on security shifts, and the worry of unpaid university fees that never relents.
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I learned this from Yasir, a student I met in Edinburgh. We were in a café. Next to us was a man reading a book. Two women at a nearby table sipped their coffees. One of them leaned frequently to pet and ruffle the fur of her dog lying at her feet.
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