Background:

The recent floods in Pakistan have caused immense suffering and destruction. Homes built from mud and unbaked bricks have been obliterated, shops and kiosks have been damaged, summer crops have been entirely lost, livestock have perished, and vital roads and bridges have been swept away. Many families affected by floods have lost their life savings and livelihoods, & lack the necessary resources to rebuild their lives after such a catastrophic disaster.

The Kohatians Foundation, established by the alumni of Cadet College Kohat (CCK), is providing support to affected families. Since 1964, CCK has been integral to the development of countless careers. Many of our alumni have ascended to influential positions, empowered to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s progress. With this mission in mind, the Kohatians—our alumni—formed the Kohatians Foundation to mobilize efforts that benefit society. We unite community leaders who are committed to driving positive change through the spirit of volunteerism.

Operating in a strict non-political, non-partisan, and non-sectarian manner, the Kohatians Foundation harnesses the strength of CCK alumni and dedicated community members to elevate society.

We work directly with communities devastated by disasters, ensuring that aid reaches those who need it most.

The floodwaters may have receded, but the work is far from over.

While the devastation is quite wide and affected areas around the country, with our limited resources we can only provide assistance to a very small number of people and families affected in the floods.

1. KF plans its relief activities for 2-3 weeks after the disaster because there is always a crowd going in immediately after a disaster and then the support dries up.
   Looking at reports, KF decided to provide assistance to one village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where we have an active member on ground who can identify and make sure the assistance reaches those who truly deserve assistance.
   As the floods started, the three areas considered were:
2. Bajaur – a member of KF, Shaukatullah, a former governor who remains in contact with people on ground and can help KF provide assistance to the truly deserving was approached for assessing needs.
3. A village in Swat, for which Brig. (retd) Dr Salim, Dr Tariq Khan, Mohamad Faheem Khan, Dr Qayum were requested to identify areas where KF can offer assistance. Advantages of linking up with any other organisation were also explored.
4. A village in Buner – The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Buner was requested for help and guidance. The DC informed KF that many organisations and the government had brought in relief goods and assistance. He suggested that KF provide solar power systems to houses a rehabilitation effort.
5. Dr Goher Sajjad was requested to assess needs for KF support to people affected by floods in Gilgit Baltistan. There were reports of devastation caused by floods in GB but then was overshadowed by reports from Pakhtunkhwa and other areas.
   Goher informed members of KF that many villages in Goher, Kharmang and Hunza were affected. He said that in Hunza people are relatively better off and being supported by the Aga Khan Network. People of other affected areas may need support.

KF got information from Sindh, Punjab and Baluchistan also.

After assessing the situation, KF Management Board decided to provide cash assistance to affected areas of Mingora in Swat because of three reasons:

• People of the area suffered financial losses due to destruction of their houses and property and businesses. People lost their livelihoods. Many small business establishments like kiosks and transport providers (rickshaws, Suzuki pickups/vans and Qingqi drivers) were damaged.
• Devastation in Swat due to floods was quickly overshadowed by destruction and very large of lives lost in other parts of the country.
• There was a group of KF associates who could manage activities on ground.

An important find during assessment of the situation in Swat was that most of these business owners were tenants who lost their valuables. The Government requires proof of ownership of property or business  to compensate for damages done to the properties, and compensation is to be paid to owners of the properties, so these tenants who were running their business and lost partial or total commodities were at a major disadvantage and therefore the relief offered by KF was of help to them.
In Swat, the Kohatians Foundation decided to provide vital cash assistance to the affected population, following strict verification processes to ensure fairness. We are offering Rs. 10,000 per household for immediate needs and Rs. 25,000 for those whose livelihoods have suffered due to damage to their small businesses.

The affected population, who were deserving of KF assistance were identified primarily by Dr Tariq Khan, who belongs to the area and is familiar with the neighbourhood and the population. Dr Tariq’ sons and nephews have been actively helping the local population since the first day when the floods hit the area. The KA Swat Chapter, in collaboration with Lasoona NGO, conducted a thorough needs assessment and verification of the proposed beneficiaries to ensure transparency and fairness in the distribution process. Priority was given to individuals whose small businesses had been damaged or destroyed by the floods, thereby threatening their primary source of income. Members and associates of KF interacted personally with each beneficiary to understand their circumstances.
Those identified were verified by members of KA Swat chapter and members of NGO, Lasoona. Those who were verified were given tokens to make the process of distributing cash assistance easy.

Distribution of cash assistance in Swat was started from 6^th September 2025.

The first distribution of cash assistance for the population affected by the recent floods was held on 6th September 2025, in Mingora. On this occasion, a number of Kohatians of KA Swat chapter were present, including Dr Tariq Khan, Dr Arshad Ali Khan (Director Finance at Swat university), and Nauman Rabi, Lawyer by profession. Dr Sahibzada Mahmood Noor, Secretary Finance Kohatians Foundation, Sahibzada Moez and Mansoor Amin represented Kohatians Foundation having travelled from Peshawar. Financial assistance Rs. 25,000 each was distributed amongst 34 individuals whose livelihoods were affected to help them start their businesses. Their signatures or thumb impressions were recorded on receipts as proof of payment, and copies of their CNICs were kept for records of KF. On the day of the visit, a total of PKR 1 Million was distributed in cash. 36 verified beneficiaries were each provided with PKR 25,000 in financial assistance to help them revive their small businesses. In addition, during the field visit on the day to the affected areas, the delegation identified 4 more severely affected individuals who were provided immediate financial support on the spot. The KF representatives addressed the gathering to explain the vision, mission, and objectives of the Kohatians Foundation and assure the community of KF’s continued support.
The delegation also visited flood-affected localities to directly observe the scale of damage, interact with affected families, and gather first-hand insights for future interventions.
The delegation of KF representatives resolved to extend assistance in a phased manner, with the next phase focusing on families whose houses were damaged in the floods. A systematic identification and verification process will be carried out to ensure genuine victims are supported.
The Kohatians Association Swat Chapter appreciated and thanked KF for their visit, help and support.
Rs. 10,000 each will be given to another 146 individuals who have suffered losses due to the floods, and they have been verified through the same process.
Members of KF visited the affected areas and spoke to the local people.
Kohatians Foundation extends its profound gratitude and appreciation to all donors who donated money, Dr. Tariq Khan, Dr. Arshad Ali Khan, Adv. Noman Rabi, Mohamad Faheem Khan, Abdul Qayum Khan, members of KA Swat Chapter, and Mr. Azam Khan of NGO Lasoona for the hard work and support to the local community and to KF in getting the assistance to the deserving.
KF will continue to monitor the situation and explore ways to provide some relief to the affected population within resources available to KF.
The immediate financial support has provided much-needed relief to 40 affected individuals and their families, enabling them to take the first steps toward recovery. The Foundation remains committed to continuing its welfare activities in Swat and other affected areas, in collaboration with local chapters and partner organizations.