Ilyas Ahmad, a father of six, earns roughly $90 a month from his driving services in the Bagh District of Azad Kashmir. As the winter months arrive, falling temperatures leave him struggling to provide warmth for his family. "Watching them shiver in the cold has been heartbreaking," he shares.
Despite working hard, his income barely covers the needs of a family of eight, and when anything unexpected comes up, he must face the added indignity of borrowing money. Buying new clothes for his children even once a year is out of reach.
In the mountains of Azad Kashmir, winters are severe and snowfall is common. Without warm clothes and bedding, a cold night is not just uncomfortable; it is dangerous.
"Inflation has made it even more difficult to manage basic needs, let alone buy warm clothes or blankets for my children," Ilyas explains.
Humanitarian agencies estimate that more than 6.7 million people across 58 districts in Pakistan need winter support. High-altitude cold and heavy snow are one cause. The lingering damage from the 2025 floods is another.
Bagh, Ilyas's district, is one of nine districts in Azad Kashmir prioritized for help, where snow can close roads and cut villages off entirely. The need is not slowing down, and neither can we.
Through Zakat Foundation of America's Winter Relief program, Ilyas's family received a winter package with warm bedding and essentials to help them withstand the freezing temperatures. with warm bedding and essentials to help them withstand the freezing temperatures.
The impact was immediate. Ilyas was able to protect his children from the bitter cold, and the weight of an impossible choice was lifted from his shoulders. The family was warmer, safer, and finally able to breathe.
