THE RECENT CATASTROPHIC FLOODS IN PAKISTAN
- Adults and children are being
More than two million Pakistani’s have been evacuated since the catastrophic floods hit the region. As of September 17, 2025, around 998 people have been killed. Similarly, a flood in 2022 and 2010 hit Pakistan's major provinces, resulting in the deaths of around 3700 individuals combined. Why have these floods been occurring? And why have they served as some of the deadliest floods in Pakistani history?
More than two million Pakistani’s have been evacuated since the catastrophic floods hit the region As of September 17, 2025, around 998 people have been killed. Similarly, a flood in 2022 and 2010 hit Pakistan's major provinces, resulting in the deaths of around 3700 individuals combined Why have these floods been occurring? And why have they served as some of the deadliest floods in Pakistani history?
It is important to contextualise Pakistan's meteorological conditions and geographical landscape before examining the possible explanations for these recurring floods.
Pakistan's average elevation is 900 metres above sea level, while the global average elevation is around 840 metres above sea level This increased elevation is mainly due to Pakistan being surrounded by the Himalayas, Karakoram, and the Hindu Kush mountain ranges, which peak at elevations of about 4,000–8,000 m. Consequently, Pakistan's high altitudes result in it being home to over 7,000 glaciers, making it the only region with more glaciers than anywhere outside of the polar areas Whilst this makes Pakistan a hub for nurturing freshwater ecosystems, it also means that glaciers within the region are melting rapidly. When glaciers melt too quickly, they begin to form into hazardous lakes and bodies of water, which then turn into a ‘glacial lake outburst’
rescued by boats
The significant shift in the natural hydrological cycle, particularly in a manner that appears to be more pronounced than historically observed, may suggest plausible links to climate change. Well, according to World Weather Attribution scientists, the recent monsoon rains in Pakistan were intensified by up to 15% due to humaninduced climate change. This link is plausible when also considering Pakistan's unique geographical landscape. The country's high altitudes place it in the top 10 most vulnerable nations to climate change impacts. Yet, Pakistan is responsible for less than 1% of the global carbon emissions worldwide, with China and the USA being the top contributors.
The damages in agricultural farming have not only raised economic concerns, but have also provided approximately 10.5 million people with the experience of high levels of acute food insecurity. Furthermore, the outbreaks of waterborne diseases, including diarrhoea, dengue fever, and malaria, have been reported following the floods, subsequently further intensifying public welfare concerns.
Taken together, these recurring floods illustrate the complex intersection of geography, climate change, and vulnerability in Pakistan. The scale of destruction has extended beyond immediate damage, regressing livelihoods, agriculture, and national stability. Addressing such challenges will require not only stronger domestic resilience but also a global recognition of the unequal burdens borne by low-emitting nations.
The effects of this climate-driven flood have been more than just catastrophic destruction, but also an imminent impact upon Pakistan's socio-humanitarian, economic and agricultural landscape.
The humanitarian, socioeconomic and health consequences of the 2022 and 2025 floods in Pakistan have been devastating. The floods have significantly impacted the housing and livelihoods of the Pakistani population. Floods of this nature have displaced over 2.5 million people in Pakistan; for comparison, that is the same size as the population of the Canadian city of Toronto. About 4550% of Pakistan's current population is employed in the agriculture sector, with around 65% of Pakistanis who reside in rural areas depending on it for their livelihood. The floods have submerged a total of 1 8 million acres of farmland under water, subsequently damaging ice, cotton, and maize crops. Economists have estimated losses of up $3.53 billion.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE OZONE HOLE: WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Inourmodernworld,it’seasytogetsucked intowhattheinternetcalls“doomerism”;a belief,orrather,mindset,thatthinksthat changeisfutile.Thatanyeffortspenttomake animprovementorfixglobalproblemsiseffort wasted,thatweshouldalljustgiveupandlet theworldburn.Afterall,it’snotlikeanything’s gottenbetter,right?Governmentsaroundthe worldeitherputonperformativedisplaysof nothingnessoroutrightrefusetomake change.Theworld’stopscientistskeep warningabouttheconsequencesoffossilfuels andoilfrackingandyetTrumpstillwantsto “drill,baby,drill”. Nothingwillever improve,sowhyeven bother?
Intimeslikethis,it canbeusefultotake astepback,and remindourselvesof adifferentclimate crisisthatoccurreda fewdecadesprior: TheOzoneHole.
TAKE A QUICK BRAIN BREAK WITH OUR FUN TEACHER TRIVIA, HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR TEACHERS?
Over the horizon lies a light beam. It’s dim but makes the surroundings look bleak.
Foggy skies blur the light. At once bright. Others faint, and just out of sight. Usually it’s dull. And we cant make out if it is. Or if it is merely a figment of our hopeful, lousy dreams. The yearn for something to dazzle our empty eyes.
If I look too directly to make out its shape the light vanishes, like nothing ever was Is it crimson, or violet or emerald today? Did you know, the light beam changes color everday?
When the dust fills our lungs, we are sure the light was never there and it never will be. But I have learned that it is just the ashes hiding the glow. Because after a while, it resurfaces again fluttering until it shines like a ray of sunshine as bright as the moon against ink stained skies.
We spoil under it’s spotlight, the days become more gentle like a veil hovering over the week’s mishaps.
When it’s gone I cling to what remains of it. Until so long has passed without a trace of it. You do not want to know what it is like living without the lightbeam.
So I keep it close. Sustain it, even if in memoery. I nourish it. And keep it alive. I help it grow. I let my anger rekindle the flames.
On days where it is too far away from my grasp I teach myself to wake up, searching for the light beam that lies over the horizon.
I AM A WITNESS OF OUR AGE
Doesn’t the fall season just make you crave something warm, cosy and delightful? A small sweet treat to hold in your hand alongside your daily cup of tea (or coffee for those who run on caffeine) as you nestle in for the evening? If I am guessing correctly, you may be thinking of muffins… specifically blueberry muffins. If you thought about something different, shoot me an email for recipe ideas for future bakes at: Khadijah.Malik@ris.ae. Although you don't usually see bright flavours such as blueberry in fall bakes, in my opinion, some fruits are just too good to be reserved for seasons like summer or spring, which may feel like an eternity to arrive. Besides, if you’re craving a blueberry muffin, bake some blueberry muffins! What's special about my recipe is that these muffins are layered with a beautiful lemon-blueberry compote and are topped with a warm buttery streusel before going into the oven. This combination is delightful and can serve as a base for any other muffin flavour (strawberry, cherry, apple, etc.).
I almost forgot to mention, this is the start of a new series which you will see in each issue of the Raha Times, it directly links back to my Personal Project, where I created a bakebook that aims to increase confidence and mental wellness. How? Well, each recipe comes with a mindfulness task or activity to promote mental well-being. This book is structured to encourage gradual growth, starting with simple recipes and building toward more complex bakes. This book follows a 12-month course through which a monthly task is attached to an assigned baking recipe. In light of my bakebook, I figured, why not create a series featured in the Raha Times, where each issue contains a new recipe and a new task to promote mental health and well-being! Well, luckily enough, the first recipe aligns perfectly with the fall ‘mood’. The mindfulness task will be attached at the end of the recipe. See you there.
INGREDIENTS:
Muffins:
2 cups blueberries
1 1/8 cup sugar
2 1/2 cups flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 stick of butter
3/4 cup plain Greek yoghurt
1/4 cup milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
METHOD:
Blueberry compote:
1 cup blueberries
2 tsp sugar
Zest of 1 lemon
Streusel topping:
1 1/2 tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tbsp brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
2 1/2 tbsp butter
1.Line 12 muffin tins and set aside, preheat oven to 180 °C or 350°F.
2.Firstly, make the streusel topping, mix in all the dry ingredients in a bowl (the order does not matter), and if you prefer, add in a pinch of salt too
3.Melt the butter in the microwave for 15 seconds and mix it in with the dry ingredients. Set aside.
4.Moving on to the lemon blueberry compote, start your stove and add a medium-sized pot over medium-high flame.
5.Add the blueberries and wait one minute until they start to sizzle, then add your sugar.
6.Wait for about 5-7 minutes, then add the lemon zest.
7.After about 10 minutes, take off the stove and set aside to cool.
8 For the batter, melt your butter in the microwave for 30 seconds and let it sit for a few minutes before you mix the eggs and sugar.
9.Take a large bowl and mix your eggs and sugar.
10.Mix in your other wet ingredients (milk, yoghurt, vanilla)
11 In a separate, medium-sized bowl, mix in your dry ingredients (flour, baking powder and salt)
12.Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix.
13.Add your blueberries and gently fold them in,
14.Add your batter across 12 lined muffin tins, swirl in the blueberry compote equally and sprinkle the streusel on top
15.Bake at 180 °C or 350°F for about 20 minutes or until the streusel is golden brown.
MINDFULNESSTASK:
TAKEAWALKOUTDOORSANDWRITEDOWN 5BEAUTIFULTHINGSYOUNOTICE.
REFLECTIONPROMPT: "WHATDIDYOUNOTICEABOUTYOUR SURROUNDINGSTODAY?HOWDOES CONNECTINGWITHNATUREAFFECTYOUR MOOD?"
Our theme of new beginnings calls for creativity. These pizza muffins are an adaptation of deep-dish pizzas but in muffin form to make them easy to pick up on the go or share with friends. They are quite versatile, and the toppings can be adjusted to preference. This recipe includes consideration for people with dietary restrictions such as glucose intolerance, vegetarians etc. If you try this recipe and/or would like to share your opinions and ideas for future recipes, please get in touch at Aishani.sarangi@ris.ae.
Pizza muffins sound like a forbidden mashup, but if you feel like baking something easy to eat, this might be for you. I developed this recipe when I wanted to share my deep-dish pizza with my friends without the hassle of carrying a full-sized deep-dish pizza. You can change it around however you want to your taste, the only thing that needs to stay the same is the base. This recipe yields 12 medium sized muffins. They are best served as is or with a sauce of your liking. Here’s the recipe that I know many have been waiting for:
MATERIALS:
-1largemixingbowl
-1spatula
-1spoon
-Akitchenscale
-Aheatproofbeaker-tobloomtheyeastifneeded
-Amuffintin
-Parchmentpaperorequivalent-forwrapping
-Cheesegrater-optional
INGREDIENTS:
BASE:
-270gofall-purposeORbreadflour-youcansubstitutewithaflourofyourchoicebutpleasedosomeresearchtoensureitissuitableforthispurpose.
-2teaspoonsinstantyeast(canbesubstitutedwithnormalyeastifneeded)
-¾teaspoonsalt(seasaltgivesabetterflavour)
-2tablespoonsoliveoil
-Roughly180mllukewarmwater
-GarlicseasoningORdriedbasiltotaste-optional
TOPPINGS:
-PizzasauceORstrained/pureedtomatoes
-2slicedtomatoes
-1slicedonion
-Dicedmushroom-roughly1cup
-2dicedcapsicums
-Shreddedmozzarellaand/orparmesan-roughly1cuportoliking-canbesubstitutedbyaveganoptionifneeded
-Seasoning-includesoregano,basil,salt,garlicpowder
-Basilleaves
-Oliveoil
-Slicedolives(blackand/orgreen)
-Anyothertoppingsofyourchoice
2 Separatethedoughinto12ballsandrollthemoutintocirclesroughly1cmin
3 Greasethemuffintinwitholiveoilorlinewithparchmentpaperandthenput thedoughasthebase.
4.Addabout1teaspoonoftomatosaucetoeach“muffin”andspreadasmuch aspossible.
5.Layertoppingsonebyone,Iwouldsuggeststartwithtomato,thenonion,then everythingelse.Youcanevenlayercheeseinbetweenvegetablestocreate pocketsofcheeseinbetween.
6.Drizzleatinybitofoliveoilontopandsprinkletheseasoningsaspertaste.Do notforgetsalt,oreganoandbasilandpreferablygarlicpowderatthe minimum.
7.Bakeforroughly15-20minsoruntilthecrustisgoldenandthecheeseis meltedandbubbling.Yourkitchenshouldalsosmellamazing!Ifyouare unsure,trytotakeoneoutandseeifthecrustisstillsoft,ifitstillfeelslike dough,youneedtoputthembackintheoven.
The school calendar is filled with creative and adventurous that support school spirit. From performances to competitions and global travel, here’s what’s coming up in the next few months.
PINKRUN–OCTOBER18
Getreadytorunforacause!OnOctober18,theschool willbepaintedpinkfortheannualPinkRuninsupport ofbreastcancerawareness.It’sadayfilledwith energy,unity,andpurpose sogatheryourfriends, wearpink,andmakeeverystepcount.
STUDENTCOUNCILNOMINATIONS–
ANNOUNCEMENTOCTOBER20
Doyouhavethevisiontoleadandthedrivetomakea difference?StudentCouncilnominationscloseonOctober3,so now’syourchancetostepup.Representyourpeers,shareyour ideas,andhelpshapetheschool’sfuture.
BENNINGTONWRITINGCOMPETITION–
DEADLINENOVEMBER1
Writers,sharpenyourpencils oryourkeyboards The BenningtonWritingCompetitionisopenuntilNovember1, givingcreativemindsthechancetoshowcasetheirtalent. Whetherit’spoetry,prose,orstorytelling,yourwordscould inspirereadersnearandfar
THEDAYTHEINTERNETDIED–MID-NOVEMBER
WhathappenswhentheWi-Figoesoutandtheworldpanics?Thedrama club’supcomingproduction,TheDaytheInternetDied,takesahilarious lookatourdigitaldependence.Premieringinmid-November,it’ssureto deliverlaughter,chaos,andalittlereflectiononourscreen-filledlives
WEEKWITHOUTWALLS–JANUARY31 → FEBRUARY7
Getreadyfortheadventureoftheyear!WeekWithoutWallsreturnsfromJanuary31to February7,offeringstudentsachancetolearnbeyondtheclassroom Thisyear’s incredibledestinationsincludeChina(BeijingandShanghai),Spain(Madrid),Langkawi Island,Japan(TokyoandOsaka),andtheLondonArtsTripforthosereadytoexplore theatre,museums,andcreativityinoneoftheworld’smostartisticcities Whetheryou’re exploringculturallandmarks,divingintohistory,orlearningthroughexperience,thisisa weekallowsstudentstolearninanewenvironmentandmakeunforgettablememories
Mangroves may look small and ordinary at first glance, but they hold extraordinary power. And I’ve learned that if we all take small steps to protect them, together we can grow a forest of hope for the future.
As the designer, I’m the one making sure The Raha Times doesn’t look like it was formatted in 1985. I handle everything from the newspaper’s layout and font choices to the visuals, illustrations, and overall vibe. My mission? To keep each page clean, engaging, and as easy on the eyes as it is fun to read, basically to make our stories look as good as they sound.
Outside the world of layouts and color palettes, you’ll probably find me staying active or chasing an adrenaline rush, whether that’s through sports, amusement parks, or rollercoasters (the taller, the better). I’m always surrounded by good music, great company, and spontaneous adventures, because discovering new places and collecting memories is my favorite kind of design inspiration.
I’m one of the section leads for the Recipes section. In each release, I write one or two recipes for people with dietary restrictions with a little description.
My name is Aishani Sarangi and I’m in grade 11. I love activities like baking, cooking, playing the piano or guitar, and reading. I also love traveling as it exposes me to so many new cultures, people, and perspectives.
Hi, I’m Manya: a sustainability driven F1 aficionado (how ironic), who loves writing and exploring new and savvy innovations, along with sharing ways to make an impact on the world. I enjoy listening to music, reading, and sharpening my vocabulary.
Name Fact
Emma
Teejay
Walter
Desiree
Mari
Roisin
Aoife
Growing up I had a pet donkey named Zelda! The donkey's name starts with the same letter as my last name
My tent’s my calm, my run brings fun, café detentions help me get things done.
In high school, I once sang Happy Birthday in Portuguese for the President of Angola at his palace in Luanda.
I went to Colegio Maya in Guatemala City, Guatemala for 24th grade.
I can play the harp and used to compete in musical competitions.
I was a scout as a teenager and now I'm a scout leader in my 'free' time.
I practiced ballet for six years
I was lead singer in a rock band in high school.
Arisha I am of indian decent
Andrea
I love to show pictures of my dog QUINCY POODLE who is back in NZ living his best life as an athlete.
Miranada
A Special thank you to...
