When devastating floods swept through Pakistan in the summer of 2022, displacing millions and submerging entire villages, the Pakistani diaspora across the world quickly mobilised. In Manchester, home to one of the UK\u2019s largest Pakistani communities, families came together to collect funds, organize aid shipments, and raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis.<\/p>\n
For many, it was not simply a matter of charity \u2014 it was an act of solidarity rooted in family ties, cultural obligation, and a deep sense of belonging. Months after the waters receded, Manchester\u2019s Pakistani families continue to reflect on how they supported flood victims back home and what still needs to be done.<\/p>\n
Collective Response From the Diaspora<\/p>\n
Walking into the community centre in Longsight, one could see stacks of donated clothing, blankets, and non-perishable food items even in early 2023. Volunteers recounted long evenings sorting boxes, labeling packages, and arranging shipping logistics.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe felt like we couldn\u2019t just sit back and watch,\u201d said M., a mother of three whose relatives in Sindh lost their home. \u201cEveryone chipped in, whether it was money, clothes, or simply spreading the word. It became a collective mission.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mosques played a pivotal role. Friday sermons were followed by urgent appeals for donations, with collection buckets placed at entrances. According to R., a local shopkeeper, \u201cWithin just two weeks, we raised enough to send multiple containers of supplies. The generosity was overwhelming. Even children were breaking their piggy banks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emotional Burden and Distance<\/p>\n
For many families, the hardest part was being thousands of miles away. \u201cYou feel helpless,\u201d explained S., a university student whose grandparents live in Balochistan. \u201cI spent nights on video calls, trying to reassure them, while also wondering how to raise more funds here. The emotional burden was huge.\u201d<\/p>\n
This sense of helplessness often transformed into determination. Several young people in Manchester organized online crowdfunding campaigns, using social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok to amplify their reach. One campaign, led by a group of students, managed to raise over \u00a330,000 within a month.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople responded to our personal stories,\u201d noted T., one of the organizers. \u201cWe weren\u2019t just sharing statistics \u2014 we were talking about our own villages, our own families. That made the crisis real for donors.\u201d<\/p>\n
Women at the Forefront<\/p>\n
Women within the community emerged as strong leaders in this effort. Informal networks of mothers, sisters, and grandmothers coordinated fundraising dinners and charity bazaars. Home-cooked meals \u2014 biryani, samosas, and kebabs \u2014 were sold to raise money.<\/p>\n
According to H., a retired teacher, \u201cWomen are often the backbone of such movements. We may not always be visible in leadership roles, but we organize, we cook, we convince others to give. Our WhatsApp groups were buzzing day and night.\u201d<\/p>\n
Faith and Responsibility<\/p>\n
For many, faith provided the driving motivation. \u201cWhen something like this happens, you remember that helping others is part of our religion,\u201d said A., a local imam. \u201cPeople didn\u2019t ask whether their money would go to Sindh or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; they just gave, because it was their duty.\u201d<\/p>\n
The spirit of giving also extended to British neighbours. Several churches in Manchester joined hands with mosques, holding interfaith charity events. One such event in Cheetham Hill raised \u00a312,000 in a single evening. \u201cIt was heartwarming to see communities cross religious lines for the sake of humanity,\u201d shared F., a community activist.<\/p>\n
Challenges and Criticisms<\/p>\n
Despite the impressive response, some community members expressed concerns about transparency. \u201cWe wanted to make sure the funds reached the right people,\u201d said K., a business owner. \u201cThere were so many appeals on social media, and it was sometimes hard to know which ones were genuine.\u201d<\/p>\n
To address these worries, established charities like Islamic Relief, Edhi Foundation UK, and the British Red Cross collaborated with diaspora groups, providing official channels for donations. \u201cPartnerships were crucial,\u201d explained L., a youth volunteer. \u201cThey gave us legitimacy and trust.\u201d<\/p>\n
Looking Ahead<\/p>\n
Months after the disaster, Manchester families continue to discuss how best to support long-term recovery. Beyond immediate relief, the focus has shifted to rebuilding infrastructure, schools, and livelihoods.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t just stop because the media has moved on,\u201d said Y., a healthcare worker. \u201cThe floods destroyed not only homes but also futures. If we forget too soon, our people back home will suffer for years.\u201d<\/p>\n
For second- and third-generation British Pakistanis, the experience was also a lesson in identity. \u201cI was born here, but during those months, I felt more connected to Pakistan than ever before,\u201d reflected S., the student. \u201cHelping out wasn\u2019t just about family ties. It was about who I am.\u201d<\/p>\n
The flood crisis may have passed, but the solidarity it inspired in Manchester continues to shape conversations, relationships, and community action. For families here, supporting Pakistan is not a one-time response \u2014 it is an ongoing responsibility.<\/p>\n
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When devastating floods swept through Pakistan in the summer of 2022, displacing millions and submerging entire villages, the Pakistani diaspora across the world quickly mobilised. In Manchester, home to one of the UK\u2019s largest Pakistani communities, families came together to collect funds, organize aid shipments, and raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis. For many, it …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-56880","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sci-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tehqiqnama.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56880","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tehqiqnama.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tehqiqnama.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tehqiqnama.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tehqiqnama.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56880"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.tehqiqnama.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56880\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56881,"href":"https:\/\/www.tehqiqnama.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56880\/revisions\/56881"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tehqiqnama.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56880"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tehqiqnama.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56880"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tehqiqnama.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56880"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}