Stars of hope

LAHORE:

When the waters rose this monsoon, sweeping through Punjab and beyond, entire communities were left devastated, villages submerged, livestock perished, and families clung to survival with little more than temporary shelters and the kindness of strangers.

Among those extending a hand have been some of Pakistan's most recognisable faces from the world of entertainment, who are using their platforms—and their presence—to bring relief, funds, and attention to the unfolding tragedy.

In Kasur, film actress Resham took her star power to the ground, visiting flood-hit neighbourhoods and personally distributing rations. Coordinating with the district administration, she stopped first at the flood relief camp set up at DPS School.

There, alongside Administrator Muhammad Jahangir Chopra, she handed out food supplies to displaced families. Later, she travelled to a village in Sheikhupura to continue her efforts. Her simple presence among the victims—listening, consoling, and handing over provisions—was itself a reminder that empathy transcends glamour.

Resham is not alone. Musician Ali Zafar, one of the country's most prominent performers, has channelled his energy into mobilising resources on a larger scale. He announced a fundraising concert set for September 27 at Lahore's Alhamra Cultural Complex, pledging all proceeds to the Ali Zafar Foundation's rehabilitation projects.

Calling the floods "one of the greatest calamities in recent history," Zafar has cast the concert as more than entertainment—"a call to action." The evening will feature his full set alongside surprise guest appearances by other leading artists.

"This concert is more than music," Zafar explained in a statement. "Together, we can bring hope to those who are still waiting for relief. Let's come together and stand by our people in their time of need." The appeal is resonating widely, with fans eager to see their favourite stars while contributing to a cause that urgently demands public generosity.

For singer Hadiqa Kiani, however, the relief effort has gone far beyond symbolic gestures. Known for her welfare initiatives in Balochistan during the 2022 floods, Kiani has again placed herself at the heart of humanitarian work.

This September, she was seen in Kasur, clad modestly in a burqa, shopping for essentials like blankets and quilts in the local market. Rain poured as she haggled with shopkeepers, her umbrella barely shielding her, yet she continued undeterred.

Videos of the moment went viral, with fans praising her hands-on commitment: "You are an amazing singer, but I followed you for your humanity, not your voice," wrote one admirer.

Kiani has also visited relief camps, offering first aid and highlighting urgent medical needs. She warned of rising malaria cases and called on doctors to establish temporary medical camps.

Beyond food and clothing, she has emphasised the plight of rural households that have lost their livestock. "The cattle that remain desperately need fodder, medicine, and veterinary care," she said, stressing that without such support, families risk losing their last means of livelihood.

To streamline donations, her team has set up collection points at Lahore's Dolmen Mall, Fortress Stadium, Sheikhupura's Circuit House, Kasur's District Public School, and Nankana Sahib's Government Guru Nanak College. For those unable to contribute in person, she has pointed to the Army Relief Fund.

The need remains immense. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), more than 900 lives have been lost since June, with nearly 8,000 homes destroyed or damaged.

Punjab has borne the brunt. Figures estimate that more than 4.5 million people in the province alone have been affected. Relief camps are now sheltering over 151,000 displaced residents nationwide, while more than 473,000 patients have been treated in medical camps.

In such bleak circumstances, the involvement of cultural icons is more than symbolic. Their presence draws media coverage, amplifies appeals, and keeps the suffering of flood victims in public consciousness.

Whether it is Resham walking through Kasur's waterlogged lanes, Ali Zafar transforming a concert into a rallying cry, or Hadiqa Kiani negotiating for quilts in the rain, each gesture builds momentum for relief and recovery.

It also underscores a broader truth: in times of national crisis, celebrity status carries responsibility. Sometimes, Pakistan's showbiz fraternity has been criticised for detachment from everyday struggles.

Yet the current disaster has revealed a more grounded dimension, where stars exchange red carpets for relief camps, microphones for megaphones of advocacy, and performance stages for platforms of solidarity.

For the flood victims, survival remains the immediate concern. But for the wider public, the sight of their cultural icons standing shoulder to shoulder with the displaced offers something equally vital: hope. And in a season when the rains washed away so much, hope is perhaps the most precious commodity of all.