In the summer of 2010, Pakistan was hit by severe floods which, according to UN was‘the greatest humanitarian crisis in recent history’. I was able, as part of Islamic Relief, to visit the flood stricken areas in Khyber Pukhtoon khawa, Punjab and Sindh to help the people and see the damage. 21 million people were affected by the floods that swept through the country, leaving millions without homes and families. I have been regularly visiting Pakistan to see how the country had progr

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Our Scotland branch of Islamic Relief will be marking the anniversary of the devastating Pakistan floods with an event in the Glasgow city council on July 25, where I will be thanking the Scottish public for their generous response to the devastating floods disaster. I have just returned from Pakistan where I saw amazing examples of how the Scottish public’s support has been used. A young girl named Khatija who was born into the horror of homelessness in the middle of the floods now has a

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Having spent 2 weeks in Pakistan I am on the PIA flight PK 785 today heading back to UK. I had 2 main reasons to visit Pakistan this time; to show BBC (look East) Islamic Relief’s floods related rehabilitation and reconstruction work funded by Luton community in Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa and secondly to participate in Islamic Relief Pakistan’s next 5 years strategy workshops. I can happily confirm that BBC team along with 2 other prominanent Luton community members were much pleased t

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I was in Pakistan about 2 weeks ago. This was my 4th visit to the Pakistan flood zone since the devastating floods hit 1/5 of Pakistani land and affected incredibly 21 million people. One of my reasons to visit the flood affected areas and people was to witness the reconstruction work carried out by my Islamic Relief team. Islamic Relief was one of the first organisations to immediately respond and establish a relief and development operation in the flood zones. I was present on the ground in

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The year 2010 was a ‘mixed bag’ for me. There were some positive aspects and events but mostly the year was one of sorrow and pain. Infect 2010 was the most catastrophic year for humanity in the last four decades. Man-made and natural disasters took their tool. Horror of Earthquakes, volcanoes, heat waves, Pakistan floods, landslides and droughts killed at least quarter million people around the world in 2010. Earthquakes not just hit in Haiti but China, Chile, Turkey and New Zeal

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The Scottish government has provided funding for two Islamic Relief projects in Pakistan. It has committed this funding as part of its agenda of reducing world poverty through supporting developing countries. £75,000 has been granted to Islamic Relief for their ongoing emergency assistance program, following the devastating floods in Pakistan in July 2010.  The funds will be allocated to help meet the basic needs of families in the Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa Province in Pakistan by provi

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The past weekend has been a very busy one for me. I had to present my eye-witness account of Pakistan floods and fund raise in Edinburgh and Lanark during 2 fundraising dinners. Over £115,000 were raised from the 2 events. On Saturday evening the fundraiser dinner for the Pakistan flood victims was in Edinburgh (Royal Highland Centre). The event was organised and hosted by the community of Edinburgh. It was truly inspiring to see that local Edinburgh organisations came together and were

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Week 1 Diary Week 2 Diary Day 6 5.30am I left from Islamabad City to Lunda village. We arrived at 7.30am and saw amongst the ruins that people were waiting for us. As soon as we got out the cars, we were surrounded by men and children hugging and kissing us. Everyone wanted to hug and speak to me which was very emotional. Everyone was still wearing the same dirty ripped clothes from Eid. The Imam of the village spoke to me and thanked me for spending Eid with them. He asked me to tel

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Lunda village in Charsadda village was not accessible due to devastating floods during my last visit to Khyber Pukhtoun Khawaa about 5 weeks ago. Infect I couldn’t even enter Charsadda or Peshawar due to lack of access to these cities. Waters have now receded in Lunda village. The main road from Charsadda is now open to the traffic once again. 80% of the houses mostly made up of bricks and clay have collapsed in Lunda. During the rescue efforts, houses were vacated on flood warnings but

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Well today was the Great Scottish Run 2010 (10K and half-marathon) in Glasgow. I made my way to George Square this morning to meet all our the runners participating under  Awaz FM / Islamic Relief banner, running to raise money for the Pakistan flood victims. It was really inspiring to see runners from different religious groups and ethnicity included those from the Scottish government, the local city council elected members, professionals and students running for the

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Our Scottish Government has awarded £75,000 to Islamic Relief’s Pakistan floods response.  The grant was announced today by First Minister Rt Hon. Alex Salmond at the Edinburgh Blackhall Mosque in Edinburgh.   On behalf of Islamic Relief, I would like to thank the Scottish Government for this amazing gift to the flood-affected people of Pakistan.  Scotland has once again demonstrated its commitment t

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Over the past weekend I was back in England for a two day trip to attend the “Iftar for Pakistan” charity dinner events for the flood victims. My first stop was Luton on Saturday where I was joined by hard working Islamic Relief volunteers with our two guests of honour Pakistani cricket players Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq.   The Luton dinner was organised and led by the owner of Nadeem Plaza, Mr Nadeem   I was pleased to see different organisation

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The past few days have been remarkable for me as I drove 1200 miles-  on Friday,20th August from Glasgow to North East England, Bradford and then to Wales on Saturday and Sunday in the cities of Newport and Cardiff in order to raise funds during Islamic Relief’s “Iftar for Pakistan” dinners held there. Monday back to Glasgow via Bristol.   All three of the above fundraising dinners were entirely organised by Islamic Relief local volunteers and what is even more

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On Friday (20th August), I had the pleasure of participating in an amazing Islamic Relief event in Bradford at the Hilton hotel. At very short notice and request by our Bradford volunteers, a 600-strong crowd turned out to support Islamic Relief’s aid efforts in Pakistan during their time of need in the aftermath of the worst disaster in recent history. With brief motivational and inspiring speeches from Hanif (a dedicated Islamic Relief volunteer for 14 years), Jehangir Malik (OBE)

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As my journey out of Nowshera began on saturday, i felt that my duty towards these people had just begun. I am now reminiscing of my time and asking myself if I have given anything to these unfortunate souls. Has my presence benefited them in anyway? But the more I think, the more I realize, that I'm the one who has benefited. I'm the one who is taking something away. They have taught my value. Value of the basic amenities we all take for granted. Value of shelter, water, clean clothes, and of f

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