How Aid Reaches Dadyal – Unseen Poverty Behind Mangla Dam

The Mangla Dam: A Symbol of Power and Progress

Dadyal, sitting on the banks of the River Jhelum in Azad Kashmir, is home to one of Pakistan’s greatest engineering marvels, the Mangla Dam. Built in 1967, the dam is a towering testament to human progress. It provides electricity to millions, supports irrigation across Punjab and Azad Kashmir, and remains a key driver of Pakistan’s infrastructure growth.

From a distance, the Mangla Dam is a symbol of modernisation, a source of pride, and a breathtaking sight for visitors. Tourists often marvel at the panoramic views from its banks, taking in the vast waters that stretch like an endless sea. But behind this marvel lies a painful reality.

For the people of Dadyal, the shadow of the Mangla Dam is more than physical. It represents a paradox, where immense power and wealth are generated, yet many of the local families live without basic necessities.

A Tale of Contrasts: Wealth and Want Side by Side

Walking through Dadyal’s narrow lanes reveals a very different story than the grandeur of the dam. Families live in modest, sometimes makeshift homes. Clean water remains scarce in certain areas, healthcare is inadequate, and children struggle to access consistent education.

The dam fuels industries far away, yet many of Dadyal’s residents still rely on low-paid labour or seasonal work. For some families, daily survival is a challenge. Poverty here is not hidden by statistics, it is lived by the widows who wonder how to feed their children and by the elderly who cannot afford medicine.

This contrast between development and deprivation is a story of resilience and struggle. It reminds us that progress is only meaningful when it reaches the people who live closest to its source.

The Faces of Poverty in Dadyal

Behind every statistic is a human story. In Dadyal, these stories are countless.

Take the example of a widow living on the outskirts of the town. Her husband worked abroad, but after his sudden passing, she was left with three children and no steady income. Today she survives on occasional community support, but most days she worries about how to pay for her children’s schoolbooks.

Then there are the children who work in roadside shops instead of classrooms, their laughter muted by the burden of responsibility far too young for their age. Some dream of becoming doctors, teachers, or engineers, but poverty keeps their dreams small.

For many families displaced during the dam’s construction decades ago, the loss of farmland meant the loss of livelihoods. Generations later, the wounds of displacement still linger. These stories reveal not just poverty, but deep-rooted inequalities.

The Role of Kashmir Welfare Foundation

The Kashmir Welfare Foundation is committed to rewriting this story. As a UK registered charity, it works directly with families in Dadyal and across Azad Kashmir to break the cycle of poverty. Through humanitarian aid projects focused on education, food, healthcare, and livelihood support, the charity is ensuring that no family is forgotten.

Dadyal, Khadimabad is the home of Kashmir Welfare Foundation and where our organisation is headquartered.

Education projects provide scholarships, school supplies, and safe learning environments. Healthcare camps bring medical treatment to villages that have long lacked access. Widows and orphans are supported through Zakat and Sadaqah donations, ensuring that their dignity and survival are protected.

Every pound donated from the UK goes directly into changing lives. For the Kashmiri diaspora, this is more than charity. It is a way of honouring roots, of giving back to the land their parents and grandparents left behind.

Why UK Donors Are the Lifeline

The Kashmiri diaspora in the UK has always played a vital role in shaping Dadyal’s story. Many British Pakistanis trace their ancestry to this very town, especially after large-scale migration in the 1960s and 1970s. They built new lives in Bradford, Birmingham, London, and beyond, but their hearts never left Kashmir.

For these overseas Kashmiris, giving to Dadyal is not just charity. It is a return to family roots, a bridge to their heritage. When UK donors support humanitarian aid in Dadyal, they are uplifting their own extended community.

This bond makes UK donors uniquely important. They understand the struggles because their parents or grandparents lived them. They give with love, with memories, and with a strong sense of responsibility.

Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

Poverty in Dadyal is not permanent. It can be overcome. By investing in education, empowering women, providing clean water, and creating opportunities for employment, the cycle of deprivation can be broken.

Imagine a child in Dadyal who receives a scholarship today. Tomorrow, she may become a teacher who inspires the next generation. Picture a widow who receives support for small business training. Tomorrow, she may stand independent, providing for her family with dignity.

This is not just aid. It is empowerment. And it is possible only when we come together to act.

A Call for Inclusive Development

The Mangla Dam was built to power Pakistan’s progress, but true progress means ensuring that the people of Dadyal are not left behind. Development must be inclusive, reaching every family living in the dam’s shadow.

Kashmir Welfare Foundation is working to ensure that aid is not just temporary relief but a long-term pathway to dignity and opportunity. Every donation is an act of hope, an investment in equality, and a chance to create balance in a place defined by contrast.

When you donate, you are not only giving food or schoolbooks. You are telling the people of Dadyal that they are seen, that they matter, and that they have not been forgotten.

FAQ: Poverty in Dadyal and How You Can Help

1. Why is poverty still an issue in Dadyal despite the Mangla Dam?
While the dam generates power and supports agriculture across Pakistan, many local families displaced by its construction did not receive long-term support. Lack of infrastructure, limited job opportunities, and inadequate access to healthcare and education have left poverty entrenched.

2. How does the Kashmir Welfare Foundation help families in Dadyal?
The Kashmir Welfare Foundation runs humanitarian aid projects including food distribution, education sponsorships, medical camps, and widow and orphan support. These projects are funded by donations from the UK and directly benefit families in need.

3. Why should UK donors give to Dadyal specifically?
Many UK donors have ancestral links to Dadyal, making their contribution deeply personal. By supporting Dadyal, they are strengthening their ties to heritage and uplifting their extended community.

4. Can I give Zakat or Sadaqah for Dadyal families?
Yes. Zakat donations support the most vulnerable families, especially widows and orphans. Sadaqah can provide food, clean water, or emergency aid. You can donate here:

Please do let us know that your donation is for Dadyal in the notes so we can assign it to the right pot.

5. What is the most effective way to support long-term change in Dadyal?
Regular giving is the most impactful, as it allows sustained projects like education and healthcare. With consistent support, the Kashmir Welfare Foundation can plan and implement long-term strategies to break the cycle of poverty. Start regular giving here.