Erbil phone repairman has fixed thousands of devices — but doesn’t own one

ERBIL — For nearly two decades, Erbil-based cell phone repairman Wasta Farhad has fixed thousands of devices. But despite his profession, he does not use a phone himself.

“I don’t have a cell phone, because it tires me out and makes me exhausted,” Farhad told 964media.

He has been repairing phones since 2006, with a particular focus on older models.

Farhad said not owning a phone hasn’t posed any problems in his day-to-day life. “My wife can drive, so they make things easy for me,” he said.

He once had a store phone but eventually got rid of it, saying it had become more of a hassle than a help. When it comes to personal matters such as funerals or gatherings, he still relies on traditional communication. “If someone passes away, relatives and friends will come by to inform me about it,” he said.

His customers have also adapted to his no-phone approach. “If a repair takes 15 minutes, I tell them to come back in 25. That way, by the time they return, their phone is ready,” he said.

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