Weeks after devastating floods hit Multan’s Jalalpur Pirwala, vast areas of farmland and villages remain under stagnant water, leaving hundreds of houses in ruins and destroying thousands of acres of wheat and rice crops. Displaced families are living in temporary tents as mud-brick homes lie in rubble.
Local elder Muhammad Jameel said his home and grain reserves were lost, with “all the food we saved after years of toil ruined.” Another villager, Taj Din, fought back tears as he appealed for help: “We will rebuild our houses, but for God’s sake, someone must drain this water. It has swept away our lifetime’s savings, our dreams, everything.”
Their accounts reflect the struggle of thousands still without proper shelter as recovery efforts lag behind the scale of destruction.
New lives in tent settlements
Amid the devastation, new life continues to emerge. In one camp, Muhammad Asghar’s wife gave birth to a baby girl, named Ayesha. A daily wage laborer, Asghar has two wives, one in Jalalpur Pirwala and another in Alipur, who is also expecting a child in the coming weeks. With Ayesha’s arrival, his family has now grown to thirteen children, four sons and nine daughters. “On one hand, we are facing hardship due to the floods, but on the other, Allah has blessed us with His mercy,” Asghar said.
Medical staff confirm several other births in the camps. Dr. Zafar Cheema, serving in the settlements, reported: “So far, nine babies have been born, including one inside a tent where both mother and child survived safely. At present, 18 pregnant women across three camps are expected to deliver in the coming weeks.” A female doctor has been deputed for routine check-ups, with ultrasound services arranged. Expectant mothers will be shifted to hospitals, public or private, when needed.
Yet, for women, sanitation remains the toughest challenge. Razia Bibi, a camp resident, explained: “we do have basic supplies, but the shortage of washrooms and even soap makes life unbearable.” While organizers distribute soap, she added, it is rarely available inside washrooms.
A man living in a tree
Stories of remarkable resilience have also surfaced. Hajji Rasool Bakhsh, a resident of the area, spent two weeks perched on a tree in his courtyard, balancing on wooden planks. His family was evacuated, but he chose to remain behind to guard his home from looters, a frequent concern in riverine settlements. “Every family has left at least one or two men behind to protect their belongings,” he explained.
Spirit of service from aid groups
Alongside suffering, the floods have inspired extraordinary humanitarian efforts. The Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML) has established eight tent villages, sheltering over 10,000 displaced people. Residents receive three meals daily along with solar panels, fans, and mosquito nets.
“Our journey continues from rescue to relief, and from relief to rehabilitation,” said Muhammad Tabish Qayyum, PMML spokesperson. He noted that more than 500 volunteers from Lahore, Faisalabad, and Karachi are assisting families in cleaning and restoring their homes. Temporary schools for children have been set up, while medical camps staffed with doctors operate around the clock.
Government action and statistics
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority Punjab (PDMA) reports that river levels are gradually receding, though destruction remains immense. According to official figures, 27 districts of Punjab were affected, submerging 4,700 villages and impacting nearly 4.7 million people. Over 2.6 million were evacuated to safety.
Authorities have established 271 relief camps and 300 medical camps, while 283 veterinary centers have moved more than 2.1 million livestock to higher ground. The floods have claimed 134 lives, with many others injured.
Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed confirmed that damage assessments began on September 24 and assured that compensation will be provided through a transparent and simplified process.
Grievances and gaps
Despite ongoing efforts, frustration lingers among survivors. Families complain that while food parcels, often boxes of biryani, are distributed in government camps, there is little provision for fans, mosquito nets, or proper sanitation. Sweltering heat and humidity have triggered illness outbreaks.
Disorganized distribution has also led to duplication, some families register in both government and private camps to collect supplies multiple times, while other vulnerable households remain excluded. Experts warn that without a unified relief system, gaps in aid delivery will persist.
Progress amidst challenges
Despite immense loss, the resilience of Jalalpur Pirwala’s people shines through. The birth of baby Ayesha in a tent, the dedication of aid volunteers, and the resolve of villagers like Rasool Bakhsh stand as symbols of hope.
Observers note that true recovery will require more than draining stagnant floodwaters it demands rebuilding lives. And that, they emphasize, will only be possible if government, civil society, and communities work hand in hand.
