In Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan, the recent heavy rains have caused devastating floods that have drowned or entirely destroyed many homes. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported that more than 36,469 houses, 60% of which are in Balochistan, have been impacted.
One such residence is the home of the Baloch singer Wahab Ali Bugti, who became well-known with the 2022 release of Coke Studio’s Kana Yaari, which featured his vocals alongside those of Baloch performers Kaifi Khalil and Eva B.
Wahab Bugti contacted The Express Tribune and revealed over the phone that he has now relocated from his village to Dera Murad Jamali. Wahab is immensely appreciative of everyone who has sent him money and ensured the safety of his family.
Added to that, “After my brothers posted pictures of our displacement on social media, Xulfi and my Coke Studio friends contacted me. This occurred a day ago, and their [CS] team has since provided massive support.”
Xulfi, on behalf of CS, shared on Twitter, “We are and will continue to be with Wahab Bugti Sahib and his loved ones to help overcome the difficult situation. Rest assured, he is being given all possible support on ground.”
Many people responded to the tweet right away, asking how they could support the artist and his family. One social media user who was involved in the Balochistan flood relief effort took it upon themselves to get in touch with the singer. The user tweeted a mobile number to directly donate to the singer’s JazzCash account once they were able to get in touch with him. Additionally, they started raising money for him once the JazzCash limit was quickly exceeded as a result of the outpouring of support.
Many known figures have shed light on the situation, including Bugti’s Coke Studio collaborator Kaifi Khalil, who tweeted out the mobile number to the singer’s JazzCash account and urged his followers to help.