Fraaz Mahmud Kasuri
Getting broken or damaged shoes repaired has always been a phenomenon associated with low-income people. We consider it a bit low life kind of job to stop by a cobbler and get our shoes fixed; rather we prefer throwing them away and buy new ones. Cobblers are mostly seen in rural areas where most of the times they occupy some space outside a barber’s shop or at any lonely place as they hardly afford any penny to pay as rent.
Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Lahore has done a wonderful job in this regard. At different points in DHA, cobblers have been given specific spaces where they are seen earning their livelihood in a respectful manner. These specific spaces have actually revived the job of a cobbler.
One such outlet is located at Lalik Jan Chowk, DHA, Lahore where a cobbler Habib Ullah is serving the people. One can witness customers coming out of their big cars and getting their shoes repaired.
Talking to the Country Today, Habib Ullah who belongs to Jamrood actually said that earlier there was a tree where he was working right now and he used to sit under that tree experiencing all the weather conditions.
He said that DHA had got him a wonderful cabin two years back and now he was serving the people in even more professional way.
He said that he pays Rs 2000 for the cabin as rent on monthly basis and earns good too due to the improved setting of the cabin.
By converting the open-air cobbling points into beautifully covered cabins, The DHA Lahore has not only helped the poor cobblers but also made it easy for everyone to approach these units and get their shoes repaired without any hesitation.