Pakistan’s popular child YouTubers, Muhammad Shiraz and Muskan, have utilised their social media earnings for a positive cause, transforming their village of Ghursay’s old school into a modern educational institution, supported by major donations. Their journey highlights the use of social media influence towards positive change.
Shiraz’s father, Muhammad Taqi, first highlighted the school’s poor state in a YouTube video, showing children studying outdoors without uniforms, shoes or basic facilities.
Despite the family considering a move to Islamabad for better living conditions, Taqi said they chose to stay and work for the village’s improvement.
“Ghursay is far in Gilgit-Baltistan, and there are very few basic facilities,” Taqi said in an interview. “Allah has given Shiraz fame, and so I had two options: Either I stay here with my family in a place without basic facilities, or we move to Islamabad, where we can get them.”
“We have stayed in the village to work here and make it better.”
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Who are Shiraz and Muskan
Hailing from Ghursay, a small village of about 2,000 people on the foothills of Siachen, Shiraz gained global attention through vlogs capturing stony streets, Persian-style houses, local festivals and everyday life.
Muskan’s cheerful appearances further boosted the channel’s popularity. “We’re trying to show some good and profess it,” Taqi said.
As their audience grew, admirers praised the siblings for providing joy and cultural insight.
Read more: Meet Mohammad Shiraz, G-B’s famous five-year-old vlogger
From humble beginnings to Zaki Academy
While Shiraz and Muskan invested their own earnings, Taqi credited benefactors Fauzia Zaki and her niece Zehra Zaidi for making the transformation possible. “There were big hurdles. We needed the surrounding land, which had to be bought, and it is very cold, so doing work during the cold is always difficult. Construction of the school and buying the land, it’s been one and a half, two years of work,” he explained.
“Fauzia Baji got involved and then took it upon herself to invest and open this school. They took responsibility for this school’s land and construction efforts.”
The new school, named Zaki Academy, now provides spacious classrooms, standard educational facilities, recreational areas and a secure learning environment.
Broader contributions
Fauzia and Zehra have also funded a rudimentary dam, installed pumps for clean drinking water, added solar panels and set up a basic health support system that includes an ambulance and medical supplies.
What began as a tribute to Fauzia’s father and maternal grandfather, Captain Mohammed Zaki, has grown into a legacy fulfilling his dream of serving the community.
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Despite these improvements, challenges remain. When Shiraz met Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif in May last year, Taqi requested a proper dam to protect the village from flooding. “When we met the PM, we asked him this: that if you are happy with the child’s content, then please work to keep the village safe from floods,” he said. “Unfortunately, this has not yet happened.”
The villagers have since built a temporary dam in time for this flood season, but a permanent solution is still needed.
Shiraz’s message
In a recent video, Shiraz urged fellow creators to use their platforms for public good. “Whichever field you work in, keep your intention clean. Allah will make you successful. But always keep it in your mind that you have to make things easier and better for others, even in small ways,” he said.
Taqi echoed the sentiment, stressing that content creators must remember the hundreds of thousands of people who watch their work and avoid causing distress.
On social media, the family’s initiative has drawn wide praise, with users calling them a beacon of hope for the nation.
