PKS-8 started operations in 2006 with 85 students. It has grown into one of our large campuses with a current enrollment of 430 students. Girls make up 45% of the students. Before PKS-8 began, the majority of children from this community were waste-pickers, earning a meager wage, and not allowed to go to school. After a great deal of effort, PKS teams convinced parents to send their children to school. 15 years later those PKS Alumni present phenomenal stories of success: Abdullah Khan is a Civil Engineer managing a local housing society. Ruqayya Yusuf is a part-time nurse and also continuing with her studies. Ajab Gul is aiming for medical school. Waseem Yusuf is studying towards a pharmaceutical degree. Fehmida works as a teacher in PKS-8.

With the help of several generous patrons, we have been able to take this community’s children off the streets, and give them the opportunity to fulfill their dreams.

PKS-8 offers morning and afternoon classes to provide flexibility to students, many of whom work to support their families. Classes range from PlayGroup to Grade 8. Additionally, students are well prepared to undertake the next steps in their education journey. Over the last three years, 171 students from PKS-8 successfully pursued further education at mainstream schools. Grade 5 students taking the national test have a 95% average pass rate. They also get free school supplies, food, uniforms, and nutritional supplements.

PKS-8 serves a large community of more than 1,500 families, originating from Punjab and Afghanistan. Languages spoken include Pashto, Punjabi, and Urdu. Most of the men work in nearby hotels, own small shops, or work as daily wage laborers. Some of the men work as cooks or waiters in nearby restaurants. The women work as house-help in nearby homes.