Pakistani expatriates in the UAE have faced major losses to their businesses and homes, amounting to millions of rupees, due to telecom service outages from severe floods in Pakistan.
Residents of the UAE informed Khaleej Times that the floods, triggered by intense rains in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, have destroyed thousands of homes and claimed the lives of many family members.
Recently, heavy monsoon rains have caused widespread flooding in South Asia, with nearly 400 fatalities, making Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the hardest-hit region.
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“I incurred a Rs15 million (Dh194,500) loss when my petrol station was submerged. This included losses of petrol and diesel,” said Saif-ur-Rehman Ghazi from Buner district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Fortunately, his immediate family remained unharmed, and his home was spared.
Saif-ur-Rehman Ghazi
“However, neighboring villages suffered severe casualties and property damage. Around 45 wedding attendees, who were family, perished. Thirty bodies have been recovered, and the search continues,” he shared.
Ghazi noted difficulties in contacting relatives due to power outages and non-functional telecom services over the past five days.
Abdullah Mustafa Khan, a UAE resident for 20 years, mentioned road closures that isolated his village for two days.
“In Bishnoi village, about 90% of homes are damaged. Over 4,000 homes in the area have been severely affected. As the network restores, information about the damage is emerging. We lacked electricity and mobile connectivity in our district. I haven’t communicated with friends or family since the rains began. Entire villages vanished, including six government schools,” he explained.
Abdullah Mustafa Khan
Atta ur Rahman, a Sarhad Rural Support Program spokesperson, reported that 800 food packs have been provided to affected families in Buner and Swat. A free medical camp offers healthcare, especially for children and women.
Atta ur Rahman
He added that the NGO is distributing drinking water, blankets, hygiene kits, and other essentials.
“We provide tools for residents to clear mud from their homes and shops, helping them return to normalcy,” he added.
Ghazi, also a social worker in the UAE and Pakistan, shared that his siblings, who are doctors, have set up a relief camp for flood victims.
