KT impact: Pakistani family of four in UAE finds home after having to sleep in parks

Dubai - Khaleej Times highlighted their plight in an article published earlier this month.

Love and support poured in for a Pakistani family of four who has had to sleep rough after losing their jobs in the wake of Covid-19. Thanks to people's generosity, they are now able to rent a decent flat.

Khaleej Times highlighted their plight in an article published earlier this month.
Uzma Farooq, 28 - along with her siblings Rabiya and Bilal and their ailing mother Khalda Farooq - had to sleep on park benches, in mosques, and even on hospital corridors for over a month, before she decided to reach out to Khaleej Times.
Little did she know, countless people were ready to help them out. KT readers from across the globe offered them food supplies and financial aid that allowed them to secure a roof over their heads.
"Thanks to Khaleej Times' story, we received so much love and support from people of different communities. My phone, which once lay lifeless without a single call, rang off the hook from the day the story was published," said an emotional Uzma.
The family was inundated with calls mostly from Pakistanis - not only from the UAE but also from Europe and Canada - consoling them and telling them not to worry.
Uzma was also contacted by Zulfi Bukhari, advisor to Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan for overseas Pakistanis. Officials of the consulate also got in touch with them and promised to help them with their mother's treatment.
"Thanks to the financial help of the community, we managed to rent a one-bedroom apartment that we now call home," she said.
"Many people of different nationalities called us and even cried over the phone with us when they heard us recount our story.
"I have never experienced so much love in my life. People who do not know us at all have been calling and pledging support. It is almost like a dream."
Call from big businessman
Uzma also couldn't forget that one of the first few to reach out to them was Indian businessman Rizwan Sajan, who offered a furnished apartment in Ajman to the family.
"I could not imagine that such a big businessman would be the first to offer help. We were so touched at the gesture of an Indian national being one of the first to lend us a helping hand.
"However, we couldn't avail of his offer as the location of the apartment was a bit far and it would be hard for us to get our mother to the hospital," she said.
Ready to start anew
Uzma is now just waiting for the virus threat to subside so that she and her siblings can start looking for jobs, get their visas in order, and sustain themselves in the UAE.
"I and my family now want to pay it forward by becoming self-sufficient and then helping out those in need," she said.
"We will never forget what we have been through and we do not want anyone to go through such a tough phase."
Three years ago, Uzma moved to the UAE for work and her sister Rabiya joined her soon after. Recently her younger brother Bilal came to the country and was all set to take up a job when an agent handling his work visa fled with his money. Uzma then lost her job, too.
With all their financial woes, the siblings and their ailing mother, Khalda Farooq, soon found themselves with no money or home.
saman@khaleejtimes.com 
 

• Dubai