UK commits £1.33m for Pakistan flood relief

The United Kingdom has announced £1.33 million in humanitarian funding to support communities in Pakistan affected by heavy monsoon flooding. The aid is expected to benefit more than 223,000 people across several districts, including Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The funding will cover emergency response and recovery operations such as the distribution of dry food, deployment of search and rescue teams, mobile medical camps, repair of drinking water systems and irrigation channels, and livelihood support for farmers.

British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott CMG OBE, said the UK is committed to assisting Pakistan during the crisis. “Through UK-funded programmes, vital assistance is reaching communities affected by flooding and landslides. The UK remains committed to strengthening Pakistan’s disaster response and resilience,” she said.

As part of the initiative, 2,400 community volunteers have been trained in vulnerable districts to support search and rescue operations. In Buner, 25 volunteers from Charsadda are working alongside Rescue 1122 teams to help locate missing people and evacuate families trapped under debris.

Mobile medical units have been set up where health facilities were destroyed or damaged, ensuring urgent treatment reaches those in greatest need. Families displaced by the floods are also receiving food supplies, temporary shelters, non-food items, and dignity kits for women.

To coordinate efforts, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) is working with aid organisations in Swat and Buner. This collaboration aims to ensure relief reaches households in remote and hard-hit areas.

Alongside emergency relief, the UK is also investing in long-term disaster preparedness. Through the Subnational Governance Programme, implemented with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the UK supports the Government of Sindh in strengthening disaster readiness. The programme, piloted in Thatta, Naushero Feroz, and Jamshoro, has already secured provincial funding for disaster risk reduction initiatives at both provincial and district levels.

A disaster preparedness dashboard has also been developed and handed over to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA). The system integrates data on safe shelter sites, medical resources, and emergency equipment, enabling quicker and more coordinated responses during future crises.

High Commissioner Marriott praised the work of Pakistan’s rescue volunteers, highlighting the impact of UK-backed training. The UK has been a long-standing humanitarian partner for Pakistan, providing vital support during repeated flood emergencies.