As of June 2025 Pakistan is home to nearly 2.1 million Afghan refugees of whom approximately 1.3 million are officially registered with Proof of Registration (PoR) cards. 

The largest number of these refugees reside in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where according to UNHCR data 717,945 Afghan refugees live. Among these refugees are not just the elderly or women but thousands of young people who were born and raised in Pakistan.

They grew up in local communities, studied in Pakistani schools and dreamed of a better future. 
Yet despite their education they continue to face the same legal and social barriers their parents once did especially when it comes to employment and opportunity.

Ali Muhammad is one of them. He lives on charsadda road Peshawar and is a young Afghan refugee who always believed in the power of education. With determination he earned a Master’s degree in Finance from the University of Peshawar. His dream was to work in the corporate or finance sector contribute to society and support his family with pride. But life had other plans.

When Ali Muhammad started applying for jobs in banks, offices, and companies he encountered a harsh reality. Despite his qualifications he was repeatedly rejected not for lack of skills or experience but simply because of his refugee status.

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Some organizations didn’t even consider his application. Others invited him for interviews but then explained they couldn’t legally hire Afghan refugees. Each rejection chipped away at his confidence and left him more disillusioned.

Yet Ali didn’t give up. He refused to let his education go to waste or become a burden on anyone. With courage in his heart and dignity in his mind he started a small business selling soup from a roadside cart.

Every morning Ali wakes up early to prepare the soup himself pushes his cart to a busy market street khazana sugar Mill Peshawar, and sells it to passersby throughout the day. What might seem like a simple job is actually a powerful act of resilience and self-reliance.

No job is small as long as it’s honest. I may have a Master’s degree in Finance, but I would rather earn my bread with pride than wait endlessly for an opportunity that may never come.

His story is not just a personal journey. It is a reflection of the systemic challenges faced by thousands of educated Afghan refugee youth in Pakistan. These are young people who studied in the same classrooms spoke the same languages and lived in the same streets as Pakistani citizens.

But due to the legal status stamped on their documents they are denied equal access to jobs opportunities and dignity. The result is a growing population of talented capable youth stuck in limbo frustrated but not broken.

Ali Muhammad continues to work every day under the open sky, in sun and rain, serving hot soup to anyone who stops by. Many of his customers are regulars now. Some admire his courage while others are surprised to learn he holds a university degree. Ali just smiles and says,

“I may not have been given a chance to use my degree the way I wanted but I still use it managing my small business calculating profits and keeping records. My education lives on through my work.”

His voice echoes the silent dreams of many others like him. Young refugees who only ask for one thing a chance. 
A chance to prove themselves a chance to serve the society they grew up in and a chance to live with dignity. Ignoring their potential is not just a disservice to them it’s a loss for the whole nation. With the right policies and opportunities these youth can become entrepreneurs, teachers, doctors, and leaders. They can contribute to Pakistan’s economy and society, just as much as anyone else.

Ali Muhammad’s journey may have taken a different path but his courage, hard work, and resilience tell a story of strength. A story that reminds us that dreams don’t die with rejection they adapt, evolve, and find new ways to survive. All they need is a little space to grow.