Pakistan is once again facing the wrath of nature as catastrophic monsoon floods sweep across the country, leaving millions scrambling for safety and aid. Torrential rains, swollen rivers, and repeated releases from Indian dams have combined to create a crisis of staggering proportions, affecting Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region. While the government, military, and international partners ramp up relief operations, the scale of devastation has exposed both the country’s vulnerability and the resilience of its people.
According to figures released by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and reported by multiple outlets, since late June 2025, more than 900 people have lost their lives and over 4 million have been affected nationwide. In Punjab alone, about 4,000 villages have been submerged since August, displacing 2.1 million and killing at least 68, as noted by the Punjab Disaster Management Authority. The situation is particularly dire near Jalalpur Pirwala, a city of around 700,000 people, where authorities are racing against time to reinforce embankments and keep the encroaching waters at bay. Relief Commissioner Nabil Javed told reporters that nearly 142,000 people in the area have been impacted, with many forced to seek refuge with relatives, in relief camps, or—heartbreakingly—on exposed embankments as their homes vanished beneath the floodwaters.
On the ground, the challenges are immense. Military-backed rescue crews have been working around the clock, using boats to pluck stranded residents from trees and rooftops. Yet, as India Today observed, not everyone has equal access to escape. Bilal Ahmed, a survivor now living in a relief camp, explained, “Those who could pay owners of private boats have already left the village. I paid money to use a private boat to leave my village.” The less fortunate have had to wait for official rescue teams, often enduring days of hunger and uncertainty. At roadside tents, families wait for food as children cry and women whisper prayers, clinging to hope for a miracle.
The human toll is etched in stories like that of Muhammad Arshad, who, with tears in his eyes, told an Associated Press reporter, “My wife and children are still trapped in our flooded home. When the floods came, I was outside the village. For three days, I waited for a boat. Today is my first chance to see them.” Saima Hussain, who fled her village by evacuation boat, recounted, “I saw rescuers pulling a woman’s body from the water. Her baby was still alive, clinging to her chest. For two days, [my own baby] hasn’t had milk. God saved us, but we need help as we are now fighting hunger. I hope for a miracle. We pray for the water to recede.”
The scale of the response has been unprecedented. The Pakistan Navy has intensified nationwide flood relief operations, deploying Emergency Response Teams (ERTs) across Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to a Navy spokesperson, advanced hovercrafts and boats have been mobilized in hard-hit districts like Kashmore, Ghotki, Sukkur, and Shikarpur in Sindh. These hovercrafts, capable of traversing land, water, and swampy terrain, have proved vital in reaching villages cut off by the floodwaters. As of September 11, 2025, more than 4,335 people and 125 livestock had been evacuated from submerged areas in Sindh alone.
But the Navy’s efforts extend far beyond Sindh. Relief operations are also active in Kasur, Rajanpur, Dera Ismail Khan, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Sujawal, Buner, Shangla, and Mingora. The Navy is assisting with the safe transfer of household goods and fertilizer stocks, distributing food rations to displaced families, and setting up mobile medical camps offering free healthcare consultations, medicines, and first aid. Crucially, these operations are being conducted in close coordination with civil administrations to maximize efficiency and ensure that even the most isolated communities receive timely support. Officials have reaffirmed their commitment to continue rescue and relief efforts until the safety and rehabilitation of all affected citizens are secured.
Fuel—a lifeline in disaster response—has become a critical commodity. On September 11, 2025, Saudi oil marketing company Wafi Energy stepped in, donating 5,000 liters of petrol to the NDMA to support ongoing relief operations. The ceremony, held at the Saudi Embassy in Islamabad, highlighted the importance of international support in times of crisis. Zubair Shaikh, CEO of Wafi Energy Pakistan, told Arab News, “Today we are contributing 5,000 liters of petrol to NDMA, before that we have contributed two separate tranches of fuel. We plan to do relief item support for the affected communities.”
Wafi Energy, which now operates over 600 fueling stations and oil terminals across the country after acquiring a majority stake in Shell Pakistan Limited, has pledged to continue its support beyond fuel deliveries. “This is part of our values. So, this is a small contribution as part of NDMA, which we are doing as part of fuel contribution,” Shaikh said. “We will keep on supporting the community in the rain-affected area and make sure we give them the livelihood in the next few months so that this contribution doesn’t end here.”
Saudi Arabia’s role has been especially prominent. The Kingdom’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has already provided food, shelter, and other assistance to more than 200,000 victims across Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan. Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki welcomed the Wafi initiative and urged other companies to follow suit, stating, “I think this initiative is very important for all the companies which are investing here in Pakistan.” He also reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment, “The kingdom is here to stand with Pakistan, to support Pakistan in the critical situations.”
As the crisis persists, authorities remain on high alert. The Pakistan Meteorological Department has reported that the Ravi, Chenab, and Sutlej rivers are at high flood, with water levels reaching official danger marks. Jalalpur Pirwala, located at the confluence of the Chenab and Sutlej rivers, is particularly vulnerable as the floodwaters move south toward Sindh, where evacuations are already underway. Officials are using bulldozers and heavy machinery to reinforce embankments, knowing that a breach could endanger hundreds of thousands of lives.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif visited Jalalpur Pirwala, pledging compensation for families who lost relatives, homes, and livestock. In a televised address, she promised to “fulfill every promise.” Irfan Ali Kathia, director general of the provincial disaster management authority, expressed confidence that the city would be saved, noting, “More rescue boats have been dispatched.” However, he also pointed out that some villagers had ignored repeated warnings to evacuate, complicating rescue efforts.
With so many displaced and relief resources stretched thin, the coming weeks will test Pakistan’s capacity for recovery and international solidarity. Yet, amid the hardship, stories of courage, compassion, and cooperation shine through. The nation’s resolve to stand together—government, military, business, and international partners—offers a glimmer of hope as the floodwaters slowly begin to recede.
