This is part of a limited series, “14 Days, 14 Stories”, about ordinary Pakistanis who are doing extraordinary things in order to give back to Pakistan.

Seraj village is located just off the highway, odd 45 kilometers away from the metropolitan city of Karachi. It seems like a Utopian dream, one Rahat Haque conceived after taking a leaf straight out of Karl Marx’ diary. Standing in contrast to the big city with an atrocious crime rate, poverty and food/water shortages to boot,  the village boasts a self-sustainable model where residents toil away earning an honest living through poultry farming and organic growing, children are provided with education and all the amenities are taken care of.

Pretty much the Utopian dream, isn’t it?

Rahat Haque comes from a design background, particularly landscape architecture and horticulture being her strong suits.   .

Seraj Village actually started off as a horticultural venture, a pilot project to adopt the area for a few years and help the residents sustain the model of growing their own produce – fresh organic vegetables and fruit. The locals were trained and taught recipes to prepare jams, marmalade, pickle and provided with cattle as well as poultry.Ladies Horticultural Club in Karachi initially took this project under its wing however soon, the village became Rahat’s baby.

A school was also set up for the children.

Sanitation, basic healthcare and immunization were catered for, making the village a glowing success.

Haque talks about Seraj Village, stating that newer avenues kept presenting themselves in efforts to improve the residents lives. Private donations kept coming in, making it easier for the concept to take a life of its own.

According to a recent report by Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform in collaboration with UNDP Pakistan, 39 percent of Pakistanis live in multidimensional poverty, with the highest rates of poverty in FATA and Balochistan. The report found that 73% of the population in FATA and 71% of Balochistan live under the poverty line. Initiatives such as the Seraj Village can help reduce the number greatly.

With each Pakistani contributing in whatever little way possible, we can provide our children with a better tomorrow.

For more stories from our series about extraordinary Pakistanis check out ‘14 Days, 14 Stories‘.