Mr. Azmat Ullah has been living with a disability since birth. As a child, his parents carried him in their laps, but as he grew older, mobility became increasingly difficult. Without an assistive device, he was confined to his home.
He was able to attend a mosque-based school near his house, where he studied up to Grade I—a certificate he still proudly keeps and shows. However, his education was cut short as the nearest school offering further classes was too far away, and without a wheelchair, he had no means to travel. As a result, he remained confined to his home until the age of 12, when luck struck—a local tailor offered to train him in tailoring.
According to Mr. Azmat Ullah, this tailor was an angel, a great trainer, and a mentor. Not only did he train him in tailoring, but when he moved to Dubai, he also donated his running business to Azmat, including all the furniture, fixtures, and equipment. This generous act changed Azmat’s life, enabling him to become not only a successful tailor but also one of the few skilled in cutting and stitching both men’s and women’s clothing.
Beyond his own success, Azmat has a passion for training others, recognizing that many persons with disabilities face not only mobility challenges but also a lack of employable skills, which leaves them financially dependent. He has successfully trained six students with disabilities, helping them establish their own tailoring shops. Among them, Ghulam Hazrat runs his shop in Laghman, while the others are based in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. His doors are open to anyone who wishes to learn tailoring, and he is always eager to empower others through skill development. However, he wishes he could afford to arrange transportation for those with disabilities, as he understands firsthand how both mobility challenges and a lack of access to skill-building opportunities can limit their independence.
Mr. Azmat Ullah is also an active member of the Special Persons Development Association (SPDA), a civil society partner organization of Brighter Tomorrow and FII. Through his engagement with SPDA, he advocates for better opportunities, skill development, and economic empowerment for persons with disabilities. His association with Brighter Tomorrow and FII has further strengthened his mission to support and mentor others in similar circumstances.
According to Azmat, despite his disability, he has led a fulfilling and successful life—something he attributes to the mentorship of Mr. Afridi and the employable skills he gained from him.
Azmat Ullah is also a father of two sons, aged 14 and 12, both studying in Grade 5. However, his personal life has been marked by deep sorrow—his wife passed away during childbirth, and his daughter lost her battle with cancer.
Reflecting on his journey, Azmat highlights an important issue: very few disabled individuals get married, and those who do often struggle due to financial dependency. However, he and his disabled students have broken this cycle—by being financially independent, they lead happy and fulfilling married lives, supporting their families with dignity.
Mr. Azmat Ullah’s story is a testament to resilience, mentorship, and the power of employable skills. Though reliant on a wheelchair, he continues to thrive in his craft, proving that physical limitations, mobility challenges, or lack of skills do not define a person’s potential.
