PESHAWAR/LOWER DIR: Al-Khidmat Foundation (AKF), the humanitarian wing of Jamaat-i-Islami, has demanded of the provincial and federal governments to provide immediate psychological support to the flood-hit people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Speaking at a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Monday, Ayesha Syed, central leader of the charity’s women wing, said that the people in flood-hit areas were suffering from severe psychological trauma and the government needed to send teams of psychologists to provide counseling and support to them.

She criticised the National Disaster Management Authority for its ‘silence’ on the issue and demanded that it should utilise international and local funds to provide support to the calamity-hit people.

She highlighted the AKF efforts, providing support to orphans, widows, and vulnerable women hit by the deluge.

Jamaat charity wing flays NDMA for its ‘silence’ over the issue

Accompanied by former MNA Inayatullah Begun, Samina Yaqoob and others, Ms Syed said the foundation was taking full responsibility for the care of orphans and widows in the flood-hit areas.

She announced the foundation would start a rehabilitation operation in the second phase, and sought government and people’s help in that regard.

Ms Syed emphasised that this was time to provide support to the affected people, not to engage in politics.

She said over 7,000 AKF volunteers were actively involved in rescue and relief efforts in the deluge-hit areas.

She said there was a risk of disease outbreak in the affected areas, and the government needed to take measures to prevent it.

She said the foundation had provided medical services to over 24,000 people through its mobile health units and medical camps.

In addition, she said they had provided food and shelter to thousands of people affected by the floods.

Meanwhile, Jamaat-i-Islami Hazara chief Abdul Razzaq Abbasi on Monday handed over Rs5 million in cash and relief goods worth Rs3 million to the JI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (North) chief Inayatullah Khan at Gulabad in Lower Dir for onward distribution among the flood-hit families of the Malakand division.

Speaking at the handing-over ceremony, Mr Abbasi said Hazara division itself had been badly affected by the recent floods, yet people of the region considered it their religious and moral responsibility to support the calamity-stricken families of Malakand.

He said extending a helping hand in testing times was the true spirit of brotherhood and solidarity. He assured that relief and assistance from Hazara would continue in the days to come.

Inayatullah Khan thanked the people of Hazara for their support.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2025