Dreams in Dust

Dreams in Dust exposes the hidden reality of child labor in Pakistan through the stories of Murtaza, a 13-year-old mechanic, and Zeeshan, a 6-year-old brick kiln worker. Filmed in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, the documentary highlights the harsh conditions these children face while exploring the broader systemic issues of poverty, lack of education, and weak labor laws.

Through interviews with experts like Irum Mumtaz, a child rights activist, and Fazal, a brick kiln supervisor, the film challenges the normalization of child labor and calls for urgent solutions, like education and vocational training. Dreams in Dust is a powerful reminder of the need for change and protection of vulnerable children.

Why This Film Matters

Child labor is often hidden in plain sight, tucked behind workshop shutters and kiln walls. Dreams in Dust brings those stories forward, showing how cycles of exploitation are sustained by silence, economic desperation, and systemic neglect. The film is not just about observing these injustices, it's a call to confront them.

Director’s Statement

“I wanted to make a film that doesn’t just show poverty, but interrogates the structures that allow it to prey on children. This is not just a story about Murtaza and Zeeshan, it’s a story about what we, as a society, choose to see and what we choose to ignore.”
— Muhammad Mehdi, Director

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