Tuesday, 12 January 2016

How Ahsan Khan and social media helped this homeless Pakistani find hope

Yesterday a video began circulating that featured a very articulate older man telling actor Ahsan Khan his life story.
But this wasn't a segment on a TV show. Khan was out in about in Karachi when he spotted the man on the streets. He was homeless and destitute and had a sad story to tell, which Khan recorded on camera and proceeded to share on Facebook.
"I found him asking for help in a market in Phase 2 in Defence," says Khan to Images. "He said he's an educated guy from Lahore and his family deserted him. I wanted to help him."
The man in the video says: "I just need a job... anything in the office except for the computer, I don't know anything about computers! But.. an office assistant? Going to and fro, photocopies, telephone... anything like that."
He goes on to say that he lost his family in a car accident, after which he was deprived of his life savings.

"I feel that a lot of actors use social media to publicise themselves or bash political parties," says Ahsan Khan. "But I feel social media also has a huge positive side. We should do something for humanity."


Soon after the video went viral messages poured in from people who wanted to help the man by offering him work. "I am ready to offer him respectable employment so he feels dignified," said one commentator on social media. "Somebody please give him a job! He'd be excellent as a call operator," said another.
Khan reveals that several people reached out to the actor offering to help the homeless man. "I feel that a lot of actors use social media to publicise themselves or bash the political parties," he continues. "But I feel social media also has a huge positive side. We should do something for humanity."
It was IT solutions company Amtech Systems that gave the man an offer of employment and "warm accommodation."
And Ahsan Khan, in a follow-up Facebook post, couldn't believe his impromptu video helped turned this extraordinary man's life around:
'A bit of positivity goes a long way,' Ahsan Khan tells his followers'A bit of positivity goes a long way,' Ahsan Khan tells his followers
What's more heartwarming than that?

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