Cycling is a tough sport in Pakistan as a great majority of the people live their lives below the poverty line. With over 25 million children out of school, professional cycling is no more than a dream for millions of boys and girls in Pakistan.

However, 15-year-old Niaz Ali is proving some of the things one hears about cycling wrong. He belongs to Toru Mayar village of Mardan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He studies in Grade 9 in a local government school. He also works part time with a tractor on Rs 600-700 to support his education, family and cycling. He wakes up early in the morning and, on a normal day, goes to school.

In Pakistan, cycling is considered an expensive hobby/sport as it requires a great amount of time, an expensive bicycle and safety gear. Niaz has modified a China Cycle. The modified cycle doesn’t look like an expensive sports cycle but is good enough for Ali.

The modification cost him about Rs 16,000. “I saved the money from my pocket then bought the things and fitted them into my cycle one by one,” Niaz says. It took him more than six months to make the cycle ready for the ride. This kept his spirit alive. “People make lame excuses about resource constraints. To realise a dream, you have to come out of the comfort zone so that you can get the mental satisfaction,” he says.

American Cyclist John Howard had said: “Bicycle is a curious vehicle. Its passenger is its engine.” Niaz Ali has travelled across the province on his cycle. He has visited areas like Swat and Dir. He has been to Peshawar on his cycle more frequently as it is closer to his hometown. Once, he has also cycled to Lahore on his cycle. “It took me about 35 hours to reach Lahore. It was a difficult journey as I had not been to Lahore before. There was nobody in Lahore I could stay with. My family was anxious about me, too. But, I didn’t give up,” he tells TNS.

On his cycling expeditions, he has had no helmet, no pads and no gloves. He has also lacked detailed route maps. “I was a bit nervous at the start of my journey… However, the nervousness was momentary. I didn’t regret it,” he says.

“The modification of the bicycle cost me around Rs 16,000. I saved the money from my pocket then bought the things and fitted them into my cycle one by one. It took me more than six months to make the cycle ready for the journey. It kept my spirit alive. People make lame excuses while they have everything available to pursue their dreams. To realise a dream, you have to come out of your comfort zone so that you can get the mental satisfaction,” Niaz Ali, cyclist.

He is now planning to cycle all the way to Karachi. “Due to some personal issues and the financial difficulties owing to the corona-virus, I don’t think I am ready for this journey. Once I get the opportunity, I will not hesitate.”

Asked about his pervious journeys, he says that he didn’t face any major incident. “People ask me about where I am going. When I tell them about my destination, most of them are amused but they support me. Some time ago, the biggest challenge was my old bicycle. Its paddles were too hard to push… especially in the mountainous areas. My parents sometimes worry for my safety when they hear news about crimes against children. However, I am quite grown up now and can fend for myself. They support me on the whole.”

He says he can goes anywhere on his own as long as there is enough money in his pocket. “I usually don’t know where I am going to stay. When I start my journey, I wipe out every single negative thought on my mind. I only set myself a destination and start the journey,” he said.

He basically puts a few clothes in a small bag, zips it and starts pushing the paddles. “All a man needs is courage. No one can then stop him from pursuing his dream. Look at my hands, they have grown hard from the work I do. Cycling is what keeps me happy. When I am at work, it is what I look forward to. It is the centre of my desires,” he said.

Niaz Ali’s father says he believed that his son was wasting his time. “The poor should not chase such dreams. We hardly manage two meals a day, but he keeps imagining things. I know my son has got the talent, but I do not think there is a career in this sport. I am afraid that he is wasting his time and energy. I want him to focus on his education instead. He is just a teenager. Sometimes I am afraid for his safety,” he says.

Niaz Ali, for his part, urges youth not to give up their dreams for anything. “The effort that appears unproductive to others, will pay off some day... My financial status is a hindrance in my education and my dream. I want to keep on paddling my bicycle across the country… One day, the world will recognise me.”

Niaz Ali has called on the government and non-governmental organisations (NGO’s) to help him. “I want to represent Pakistan at international competitions, especially the Olympic games.”

The writer is a freelance   journalist based in Peshawar and tweets at Wasim_Chashmato