A Pakistani Cab Driver Writes a Book

‘For Hire’: Cabbie knows how to move pen and he does it well
By Mahtab Bashir, Daily Times, February 16, 2009

ISLAMABAD: Asif Hussain Shah, a taxi driver, has written a unique book titled ‘For Hire’ to relate his experiences on the wheel.

Feroz Sons published the book in January this year. Shah told Daily Times he quit studies at Grade 12 but his quest for learning still raged.

“I drive taxi to make ends meet. Sometimes I feel on the verge of break-down and sometimes exhausted. All the same, I decided to pen down my experiences in the form of short stories and I did it,” Asif said.

Born in Lalamusa, Asif was a plumber when he got married and came to Rawalpindi in 1993. Then he took to driving taxi, which he felt adventurous.

“Time is money for me. I don’t while away on roadsides, taking tea and smoking. Rather I read people and note down my experiences,” he said.

He said, “I have met some very interesting passengers over 15 years of my experience as a cabbie. I thought why not write short stories on them in simple language and then I got down to it. Slowly I ended up in writing this 120-page book.”

Shah is an inspiration for common men, who think they are lost. Shah tells them no they are not.

Having written a successful book, he is not going to leave his profession as a cabbie. He said whatever he was today was because of this profession.