Assalam-o-Alaikum my dear brothers and sisters,
My hands are trembling as I write this. My heart is heavy. It feels like only yesterday we were talking about the floods of 2022, and here we are again. Pani, pani har jagah. Water, water everywhere. But this time, it is different. They are saying this is the worst flood in the history of Punjab. Can you even imagine that? History!
Two million people. Just try to say that number out loud. Two. Million. People. That’s not just a number, meri behen, mere bhai. It’s two million souls. Two million stories. Two million homes now filled with muddy water. Two million farmers watching their life’s work wash away. Two million mothers trying to keep their children safe from the rising water.
The skies have opened up over Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), and our people are caught in a nightmare. This isn’t just rain; it’s a test from Allah, and it’s a wake-up call for all of us about our changing world.
Today, I am not just a writer. I am a voice for those whose own voices are lost in the roar of the rivers. I am writing to you, asking you to listen, to feel, and to help.
The Unprecedented Deluge: What is Happening in Punjab?
Punjab, the heart of Pakistan, the land of five rivers, is bleeding. The water levels in the Sutlej, Chenab, and Ravi rivers are higher than anyone has ever seen. A senior minister, Marriyum Aurangzeb, said it herself: “This is the biggest flood in the history of the Punjab.”
Think about our villages near the Pakistan-India border, in places like Kasur. Families have lived there for generations. They know the moods of the river Sutlej. But this year, the river is angry. It is swallowing everything. Homes made of mud and love have dissolved into the water. Green fields that were ready for harvest are now a giant, brown lake.
The news channels show us heartbreaking pictures. People are climbing onto boats, holding tightly to a gas cylinder, a bag of clothes, or their most precious belonging: their children. They are leaving everything behind, sailing towards higher ground, not knowing if they will ever have a home to return to.
This isn’t just from our rain. Water has been released from dams across the border in India, and it has come rushing into our low-lying areas without mercy. Our government is doing what it can. They are evacuating people, setting up rescue camps in schools and police stations. But the scale of this disaster is just too big. It’s overwhelming.
When the Sky Bursts: The Terror of Cloudbursts in KPK
While Punjab is drowning in overflowing rivers, our brothers and sisters in the beautiful mountains of KPK are facing a different kind of terror: cloudbursts.
What is a cloudburst? Imagine a giant bucket in the sky that suddenly tips over in one small area. It’s not rain; it’s a waterfall from the heavens. A huge amount of water falls in just a few minutes. On the flat plains, this would be a flash flood. In the mountains of KPK, it is a monster.
The water rushes down the mountainsides with incredible force, bringing with it mud, rocks, and giant boulders. It creates flash floods and landslides that can wash away entire villages in the blink of an eye. There is no warning. One minute you are safe in your home, and the next, a wall of water and debris is crashing down on you.
Families in Swat, in Dir, in Chitral are losing everything. Their homes, their small shops, the bridges that connect them to the world – all gone. The beautiful valleys are now filled with destruction and sorrow.
More Than Numbers: The Human Faces of This Tragedy
Let’s forget the numbers for a minute. Let’s talk about people. People like you and me.
I read a story that broke my heart. A 19-year-old girl named Shumaila Riaz. She is seven months pregnant with her first baby. For the last four days, she has been in a crowded relief camp, a school that now holds 2,000 homeless people. She told a reporter, “I wanted to think about the child I am going to have, but now, I am not even certain about my own future.”
Subhan’Allah. Can you feel her pain? A mother-to-be, who should be dreaming of her baby, is now terrified for her own life. She is surrounded by mud, wearing the same dirty clothes for days. This is the reality for thousands of our women, our daughters, our sisters.
Socho na, just think about the old farmer in a village in Multan. He spent all year caring for his crops. He was probably planning to use the money to marry off his daughter or fix his leaky roof. Now, his fields are 10 feet under water. His hope is gone. His eyes are empty.
Think about the little child who had to leave their school bag behind. Their books and pencils, their connection to a brighter future, are now floating in the floodwater.
These are the real stories. This is the real pain. And it is happening right now, as you read this. Dil rota hai dekh kar. The heart weeps seeing this.
Why Again? Climate Change is Not a Foreign Problem
Many people ask, why does this keep happening to Pakistan? The answer is simple and scary: climate change.
This is not some problem for Europe or America. It is happening here, to us. Our world is getting hotter, and this heat is like a fuel for disasters. The glaciers in our beautiful northern mountains are melting faster than ever before. This meltwater fills our rivers to dangerous levels.
At the same time, the hot weather makes the monsoon rains more extreme. The rains that once gave life to our farms are now bringing death and destruction. We are one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change, even though we have done very little to cause it. This is a global problem, but we are paying the highest price.
We cannot stop the rain. We cannot stop the rivers. But we can stand together. We can help each other. We can show the world the strength and compassion of the Pakistani people.
Our Team is Ready: KCHT’s Mission on the Ground
In the face of this immense tragedy, we cannot sit silently. Our team at Kashmir Citizen Helping Trust (KCHT) is heartbroken but full of resolve. We are preparing to go into the field in the coming week, Insha’Allah. We will go into the worst-affected areas of Punjab and KPK, to the people who have lost everything.
But we cannot go empty-handed. We need to take your love, your prayers, and your support with us. We are on an emergency mission to provide a lifeline to the victims. Your donation will not go to some big office; it will go directly to the hands of those who need it most.
With your help, our teams will provide:
- Fresh Food Packs: A warm meal for a family that hasn’t eaten in days.
- Clean Drinking Water: To protect children from deadly diseases like cholera and diarrhea that spread in dirty floodwater.
- Hygiene Kits: Soap, toothpaste, and sanitary items to help people maintain some dignity in this difficult time.
- Warm Clothing & Blankets: The nights can get cold, especially when you are wet and sleeping on the floor of a camp.
- Gas Lamps for Cooking: So a mother can cook for her family when there is no electricity.
- Water Coolers: To store safe drinking water for families.
How You Can Be Their Hope, Their Lifeline
My dear reader, this is where you come in. You are the hope for Shumaila and her unborn baby. You are the comfort for the old farmer who lost his crops. You are the reason a child will get a clean bottle of water to drink.
Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “The best among you are those who bring the greatest benefit to others.”
Today is the day to be the best among us. Every single rupee counts. Please do not think that your contribution is too small.
- Rs. 100 can provide clean drinking water for a small family for a day.
- Rs. 1,000 can provide a hygiene kit to keep a family safe from disease.
- Rs. 5,000 can provide a food pack with essentials like flour, rice, daal, and oil to feed a family for a week.
Allah sees every intention. He will reward you for every bit of kindness you show.
Please, I beg you, open your hearts and donate now. Here is how you can send your help:
Donate via JazzCash:
Account Number: 03004697779
(Please share your receipt with us via WhatsApp at the same number after you donate, so we can track it and say thank you!)
Donate Online via Our Secure Website:
www.kcht.org
(You can use your credit card or other online methods here. It is safe and secure.)
Pakistan is calling you. Your people are calling you. Please answer their call.
Your Questions Answered (FAQ)
Q1: How do I know my donation will reach the flood victims?
A: KCHT has a 100% donation policy for specific appeals like this. Our teams will be on the ground themselves, distributing aid directly to the families in Punjab and KPK. We will share pictures and updates from the field on our website and social media, Insha’Allah.
Q2: Can I donate from outside Pakistan?
A: Yes, absolutely! The best way to donate from abroad is through our website, www.kcht.org. It accepts international payments and is completely secure.
Q3: What is the most needed item right now?
A: Right now, the most urgent needs are clean drinking water, food, and basic medical supplies to prevent the outbreak of diseases. Your financial donation allows us to buy these essential items in bulk and deliver them efficiently.
Q4: Why is this flood worse than others?
A: A combination of factors: record-breaking monsoon rains fueled by climate change, melting glaciers adding more water to our rivers, and cross-border water flows from India have all come together to create this “super flood” in Punjab.
A Final Prayer
As I finish writing this, my dua is for the people of Pakistan. Ya Allah, have mercy on us. Protect our people. Give strength to those who have lost everything and give patience to their hearts. And Ya Allah, bless every single person who reads this and donates to help their brothers and sisters. Ameen.
Please, share this blog post with your family and friends. Share it on WhatsApp, on Facebook, everywhere. Let’s create our own flood – a flood of love, compassion, and generosity.
Together, we can help our people survive and rebuild their lives.
With a heavy heart and a hopeful prayer,
Your sister,
Tanzila
For Kashmir Citizen Helping Trust (KCHT) – Together for Humanity.
