In the remote Pakistan village of Hakimwala, farmers battle a deadly pest that is ruining their cotton crops. Many find it difficult to afford the pesticide and face mounting debts.
The elders of the village encourage the young men to travel abroad to earn better pay and help lift the village out of poverty.
Twenty-eight-year-old Sharif has lived in Hakimwala all his life. He is an only son and drives the only car in the village. He is responsible for driving the sick to the city hospital three hours away.
But with the infestation of his cotton crops and rising debts, Sharif decides it is time to seek his fortune elsewhere.
Sharif decides to go to Dubai despite warnings from his friends. The villagers sell the car and his family sells their hard-earned lands to cover his expenses.
For the first time in his life, Sharif leaves his village, flies in an airplane and experiences a foreign land. In spite of mounting debts, Sharif is about to learn that there is more to life than money. Or is there?
Editor's note: Since this film first aired in April 2016, $9,621 has been raised for Hakimwala through an online crowdfund campaign. The money has been used to buy a new van for the village.
#AlJazeeraEnglish #Witness #PakistaniMigrantWorkers
More from Witness on:
RU-vid - aje.io/witnessYT
Facebook - / ajwitness
Twitter - / ajwitness
Instagram - / ajwitness
Website - aljazeera.com/witness
- Subscribe to our channel: aje.io/AJSubscribe
- Follow us on Twitter: / ajenglish
- Find us on Facebook: / aljazeera
- Check our website: www.aljazeera.com/
23 апр 2016
