Statement on the Monsoon Rains and Flooding in Pakistan

Since late June, Pakistan has faced devastating monsoon rains, flash floods, and landslides that have claimed over 650 lives and injured hundreds more. Entire communities have been

displaced, homes destroyed, and critical infrastructure damaged.

The province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been the hardest hit, with more than 350 deaths

reported. Buner District alone has experienced catastrophic destruction, where hundreds of

families have lost loved ones and many remain missing. Other districts such as Swat, Bajaur,

Shangla, and Mansehra, along with parts of Punjab, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and

Karachi, continue to face the impact of these floods.

Heavy rainfall is forecast to continue into September, and rescue and recovery efforts remain severely challenged by blocked roads, unstable terrain, and disrupted communications. Communities are working tirelessly to provide relief, restore essential services, and care for the displaced.

This calamity underscores the growing vulnerability of South Asia to climate-related disasters. Despite contributing less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan is consistently ranked among the countries most severely impacted by climate change. The increasingly unpredictable and destructive monsoon patterns are part of this wider global crisis, in which those least responsible bear some of the heaviest burdens.

As a community of Pakistani graduate students, our hearts are with all those affected. We

especially hold in care our fellow students who are grieving or anxiously awaiting news from

family and friends back home. In moments like these, we are reminded of the deep connections that bind us and the importance of compassion and solidarity across borders.

We invite our broader university community to keep the people of Pakistan in your thoughts

during this difficult time.

Executive Board,

PakGSO