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For the past couple of weeks, Tabarak Rehman has been running 40 to 45 kilometres every day to advocate for children’s right to education in Pakistan and documenting his journey on Instagram. Despite having no marathon experience, the 27-year-old is currently on a cross-country run to fundraise $1 million for the country’s out-of-school children in collaboration with The Citizens Foundation (TCF).

TCF is a non-profit organisation dedicated to educating underprivileged children. In October, it achieved 2,033 school units, impacting 301,000 students across the country.

While fundraising through cross-country running is common in the rest of the world, Rehman may be one of the first few to make huge strides in education advocacy this way in Pakistan.

The ongoing run, which started on Nov 3, is set to be completed within 35 days covering a total distance of 1,600km from Cadet College Hasan Abdal to IBA University in Karachi.

Pakistan is home to 71 million children between the ages of five and 16. An estimated 36 per cent, or 25.3 million, are out of school, according to a recent study on out-of-school children called The Missing Third of Pakistan.

The education system in Pakistan has recently worsened in terms of both access and quality. Many public schools fail to provide high-quality education in addition to various other problems faced by students, such as economic factors, cultural barriers, and inadequate infrastructure.

With the success of his project, Rehman will be able to support the education of at least 7,000 students. His game plan to raise $1 million primarily relies on donations but he has also received sponsors for his project, he told Images.

Before his run started, the project received $40,000 from a corporation. “As the run gains more traction, we are getting some sponsors. All the corporate money will be going to the fundraiser,” he explained.

“My plan now is reaching out to as many people as I can […] using social media or any other platform to raise money,” Rehman added. People can donate to the project directly or support the run by engaging with their social media platforms.

He narrated to Images how growing up in a small town in Punjab became the source of his inspiration behind the project. Rehman’s parents moved to Ahata, a rural town in Taxila. In 1991, his father opened the town’s first private school — and the first school in an eight-mile radius.

Over the years, his father established 16 other schools in the region, educating countless children. It was his father’s work that influenced Rehman to contribute to this cause.

During his years at Cadet College Hasan Abdal, he was surrounded by accomplished people with high merits, which broadened his outlook. It showed him that “education is a great equaliser and people from any background can be here”.

“So I wanted to do something for children.”

The final push was his time spent studying at Northeastern University in the United States. He went for his master’s in 2022 but saw “only a few Pakistani students,” which made him think about the dire state of Pakistan’s education system.

“Many children do not get the right opportunities, especially in fields of capital and innovation, and to come to the US,” he explained.

Speaking on the issue of out-of-school children, he said, “I always wanted to do something but never knew the what or how.” Today, with the right “capacity, wisdom and experience,” he is able to achieve his goals.

The process

Rehman, who has background in finance, has combined his passion for numbers with his commitment towards education. In many ways, his regular job as a strategy consultant equipped him with the skills required to support his advocacy.

“Working in finance did give me confidence to understand numbers and impact,” he said. But this project is essentially a physical one and while Rehman does not have any official marathon experience, he trained for six months to prepare for the run.

His training included covering around 20km every day and going to the gym three times a week. “I would run but also walk, which is very important as part of my training,” he said, adding, “I did this with my nine to five job.”

Any kind of cross-Pakistan journey is no easy feat, especially one that requires covering a long distance on foot. Rehman listed some of the challenges he faces, such as harsh weather, pollution, smoke from rickshaws and trucks, heat, traffic, sleeping in uncomfortable places as well as attacks from stray animals.

He recalled having an upset stomach on the fourth day of his run. “It is an eating sport as much as a running sport, as you need to eat to reclaim energy,” he said. “But I try not to complain.”

Rehman described his daily routine as a “rollercoaster of emotions and experiences”.

He wakes up between 6 and 7am and begins running at 8am after a calorie-rich breakfast. His first break is at around noon, for one hour. Then he keeps moving and takes breaks every two to three hours. The day ends at 7pm with him and his team staying at different guest houses and hotels. Sometimes, he rests in an RV.

Rehman is always accompanied by his crew stationed ahead of him, providing support and supply exchanges.

During the run, he is often greeted by locals and approached by local media. Rehman can be joined by anyone during his run. His team maintains a five-day rolling schedule on Google Maps, which is updated each evening after he completes his run for the day.

However, support runners must adhere to “strict rules” which have been detailed on his website. They must stay beside or behind Rehman, who will stay ahead at all times. They must also look after their own food, water and transport.

One of the most curious things about Rehman’s run was his decision to do it during peak smog season in Punjab. He admits the decision to travel amid the ongoing environmental calamity was “stupid”.

“I had to keep telling myself to keep going,” he said, adding, “but we have been smart about it. We delayed the start to 10 or 11am to avoid peak smog hours. And we have to wear masks.”

An unforgettable experience

Despite many challenges, Rehman called his journey “unforgettable”. “We were aware of the physical and mental side but forgot about the human side. Meeting kids in the schools — that’s the human side.”

And that human side has been the best part of his journey. He revealed that while he does not get the time to reflect during his runs as it is a “rollercoaster”, his interactions with kids at TCF schools are always uplifting.

On one such occasion, he recalled meeting a 10-year-old girl, Barirah, from Jhelum. “She came with her father and donated Rs1,000. I think that was her entire pocket money, which lifted our spirits,” he said.

On another, Rehman and his team visited a remote village called Kacha Khuh where they played and danced with the kids. He said such experiences kept him motivated.

Rehman is encouraging of anyone who wants to fundraise in a similar manner or simply go on a cross-country run, and said he is open to give them advice.

His biggest tip was to have a team. “It is definitely a team sport. I am not alone as I have a team of 10 to 12 people looking after the media, nutrition, etc who are working full time,” he said. He also emphasised on the importance of planning — but not too much.

“Have a game plan,” he said, “[but] be flexible.”