Pakistan’s envoy to the United Arab Emirates has called on the country’s large expatriate community to step forward with direct support for victims of the devastating floods back home.
Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi made the appeal on Wednesday, urging Pakistani nationals in the UAE to contribute through donations, volunteering, and other community-driven initiatives. His message came as Pakistan continues to reel from severe flooding triggered by monsoon rains, which has displaced hundreds of thousands and claimed numerous lives.
According to official figures, more than 200,000 people have been evacuated along three rivers as waters surged in several provinces. Districts including Buner, Swat, Bajaur, Shangla, and Mansehra have been among the worst affected, while flooding has also caused widespread destruction in Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Local reports indicate that hundreds of people have died, and thousands more remain vulnerable as relief efforts continue.
Ambassador Tirmizi expressed his deep sorrow at the devastation, extending condolences to grieving families and acknowledging the widespread losses. “May Allah Almighty grant eternal peace to the departed souls and strength and patience to the bereaved families,” he said.
The disaster has also touched members of the Pakistani diaspora more directly, with some UAE residents suffering damage to their properties and businesses in Pakistan, according to earlier reporting by Khaleej Times.
In a mark of solidarity with victims and their families, the Pakistani embassy in the UAE has postponed Independence Day celebrations that had been scheduled in the country. Instead, the ambassador urged the community to channel its energy into relief efforts, stressing that financial and material aid sent through credible channels could provide vital assistance to those in desperate need.
The call for support echoes an earlier message of sympathy from the UAE’s leadership. President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan offered condolences to Pakistan’s leaders following the tragic loss of life in the flash floods, reaffirming the close ties between the two nations.
Pakistan has experienced increasingly destructive monsoon seasons in recent years, with climate change believed to be intensifying rainfall and raising the risk of severe flooding. The ambassador’s appeal highlights both the urgency of the current crisis and the potential role of the diaspora in mobilising resources to support recovery.
With one of the largest Pakistani expatriate populations in the Gulf, the UAE community is well-positioned to contribute significantly to relief efforts. As families across Pakistan confront loss and displacement, officials hope that the outpouring of support from abroad can help ease the suffering of those most affected.
