RAWALPINDI: A handsome Pakistani carpenter from Punjab saw his life change overnight when a picture of him posing at his workplace in a bright blue kurta tunic went viral on social media in July.
Muhammad Waqas, 24, left his village in Pakistan’s Sialkot district four years ago to join his father who runs a carpentry workshop in Riyadh.
In July, a friend posted a picture of him on social media, saying to contact him if anyone wanted to hire the “handsome guy” as a model.
Mohammed Waqas, a Pakistani model and carpenter wears a protective mask as he works at a carpentry workshop in the Janadriyah district in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on July 19, 2020. (AFP/File)
“Life has definitely changed since then,” Waqas said, laughing, during a phone interview with Arab News on Friday.
Working for the fashion industry was a dream he never expected to come true. But when his friend’s twitter post went viral and media outlets covered his story, contracts followed.
Mohammed Waqas, left, a Pakistani model and carpenter checks local brand T-shirts before displaying them at the King Fahad library park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on July 19, 2020. (AFP/File)
His family was initially not very enthusiastic about the new career path.
“We are from a very small village where the idea to go into something like fashion or modeling is very alien,” Waqas said. “At first there were lots of questions and little understanding but now, alhamdulillah [paise be to Allah], I do it all with their support.” 
His brother had joined him in Riyadh to help run their father’s business so that Waqas could pursue modeling opportunities.
Although the fashion industry and demand for models has slowed due to the coronavirus pandemic, Waqas is still signing contracts.
“Those contracts include shoots for a car company, a mobile company, and a tee-shirt brand,” he said.
Following success in the kingdom, Waqas says he has also been offered modeling gigs in Pakistan but these remain on hold as pandemic-related travel restrictions are still in place.
“I have been invited for modeling opportunities in Lahore and Islamabad and will go to Pakistan soon,” he said, “I am Pakistani and to work there would be an honor.”
