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The Harvard College Pakistani Students Association raised approximately $2,800 in donations to support people in Pakistan impacted by recent flash flooding that has wrought devastation across the country.

Flooding in Pakistan, brought about by particularly heavy monsoon rains from June to September, has displaced more than 2.5 million people and caused nearly 800 deaths, according to United Nations agencies.

Enaya Ahmad ’26, the co-president of HCPSA, said the organization’s members felt that they had both an obligation and opportunity to raise donations to support those impacted by the flooding as the student association for Pakistanis at the College.

“We feel that we have a platform in which we can raise money and help communities back home that are very close to us,” Ahmad said.

HCPSA previously organized fundraising drives for environmental disasters in Pakistan. When flooding caused more than $30 billion in damage and killed more than 1,600 people in 2022, the group raised more than $32,000 to support those affected.

This year, the group partnered with a new non-profit, Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan, to funnel donations to humanitarian relief. Alkhidmat provides disaster relief through providing temporary homes and mosques, clean food and water, and emergency medical services, according to its website.

“This is the first time we’re donating with this foundation. However, we know some connections within the foundation itself, and they’re willing to provide us pictures and everything to show that the actual aid is being delivered to people that are being affected,” Ahmad said.

HCPSA also adjusted its fundraising approach this year by promising to match all donations. Alumni of the organization are helping fund that effort, according to Ahmad. That means the organization will donate at least double the roughly $2,800 in donations that it has already raised.

“Every dollar donated will be matched through the support of some of our Harvard alumni that have been former presidents of Harvard College PSA, or were part of the board within their years at Harvard,” she said.

To spread word of the fundraising effort, HCPSA members have been putting up posters across campus and will soon begin to solicit donations from students in dining halls.

“Within dhalls, we’re going to start doing tabling and speaking to students one-on-one to see if they can donate as much as they can,” Ahmad said, adding that the group has been postering in Harvard Houses and public spaces wherever the practice is allowed.

The organization has also collaborated with other student groups to raise funds for the relief efforts, according to Zainab Zarnish ’27, co-president of HCPSA. Harvard Undergraduate Ghungroo, a student dance group focused on South Asian culture and dance, committed to donating all the ticket proceeds from its latest performance, “Sur Sagar,” which showcased South Asian performing arts.

According to Ahmad, HCPSA has an unofficial goal of raising $30,000 in donations, before accounting for matched gifts, and expects to continue fundraising through the spring semester.

“We’re trying to reach as much as they did previously, of course, as much as we can. That would be amazing,” Ahmad said.

—Staff writer Alexander W. Anoma can be reached at alexander.anoma@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @AnomaAlexander.

—Staff writer Chantel A. De Jesus can be reached at chantel.dejesus@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @c_a_dejesus.