In the remote village of Dasskel, Goharabad, Diamer, the glaciers and harsh winters have long dictated the pace of life. Yet, amid these challenges, Mustaqeem Khan has cultivated a success story that transcends his rugged surroundings. Using a passive solar greenhouse, Mustaqeem has turned the unforgiving winters into a season of plenty.
"This greenhouse is more than just a structure; it's a lifeline," Mustaqeem says as he tends to rows of spinach, tomatoes, cucumber, and seedlings thriving within the greenhouse's warm interior. Despite the icy winds outside, the greenery inside speaks of resilience and innovation.
Mustaqeem is not alone in embracing the greenhouse revolution. Across the valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan, similar initiatives have inspired transformations, including the remarkable journey of Zargar Ali from Silgan in Ghizer Valley.
While Mustaqeem has achieved financial stability through his greenhouse, Zargar Ali's story from Ghizer demonstrates how these initiatives can elevate entire families to prosperity. Starting in early 2009 with a single greenhouse, a transformative innovation introduced by the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) under the Central Asia Poverty Programme (CAPP), Zargar worked tirelessly, experimenting with tomatoes, cucumbers, and other vegetables. Over time, he perfected his techniques, expanded his operations, and built a thriving fruit business from the greenhouse revenue that has made him a millionaire in just a decade and a half.
Read more at The Express Tribune