In the quiet village of Jamshoro, located in Pakistan’s southern province of Sindh, Abdul Malick sat surrounded by grieving family members and neighbours. The air was heavy with sorrow as they offered their condolences over the tragic loss of Malick’s nephew, Muzaffar Ali, who was killed in Dubai last week. Ali, a 27-year-old labourer, was among two Pakistani nationals who lost their lives during retaliatory Iranian missile strikes targeting Gulf countries. These attacks followed a series of US-Israeli operations against Iran that began roughly two weeks ago, escalating tensions in the region.
The fatal incident occurred when debris from an intercepted projectile fell onto Ali’s vehicle, ending the life of the young worker far from home. Malick, standing beside Ali’s three young children, described the devastating blow to the family. “It is a profound tragedy for a household that depended solely on him for their livelihood,” he expressed with visible anguish. He further lamented the cruel reality that ordinary people like Ali, who have no stake in the geopolitical conflict, are becoming unintended casualties. “The poor are being sacrificed as pawns in a war they never chose to be part of,” he added, underscoring the human cost of distant power struggles.
Muzaffar Ali had left his hometown in Jamshoro district four years ago in search of better opportunities in Dubai, a city known for attracting millions of migrant workers from South Asia. Another victim, Murib Zaman, aged 48, hailed from Bannu in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and had been employed as a driver in the United Arab Emirates for over 25 years. His death marks a significant loss for his family, which includes five children. Additionally, officials reported a third Pakistani worker was killed in a drone strike while fishing within Iranian territorial waters, further highlighting the widespread dangers faced by Pakistanis in the region amid escalating hostilities.
Pakistan shares a lengthy southwestern border with Iran, and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is increasingly reverberating within its borders. One immediate consequence has been a sharp rise in fuel prices due to soaring oil costs, directly impacting the daily lives of millions of Pakistanis. Moreover, the unrest has prompted approximately 4,000 Pakistanis, including students, to return home from Iran, reflecting growing concerns about safety and stability. The Gulf region remains a critical economic lifeline for Pakistan, with remittances from expatriate workers constituting about three to five percent of the country’s GDP, economic analysts at Capital Economics.
More than 5.5 million Pakistanis, predominantly unskilled labourers, are employed across the Gulf states, especially in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The money they send back plays a vital role in sustaining their families, covering essential expenses such as education, healthcare, and small business investments. These remittances also stimulate domestic consumption and broader economic activity within Pakistan. In February 2026 alone, Pakistan’s central bank recorded foreign remittances totaling $3.3 billion, marking a 5.2 percent increase compared to the previous year. However, experts warn that if the conflict in the Gulf persists, it could severely disrupt Gulf economies and, by extension, the flow of remittances to South Asia.
Despite the growing instability, most Pakistani workers currently remain in the Gulf region. The Pakistani foreign ministry in Islamabad has noted that the number of returnees is minimal and does not constitute a significant exodus. Meanwhile, Farmanullah, a cousin of the late Murib Zaman, voiced a poignant reflection on his homeland’s future. He expressed a heartfelt desire for Bannu to develop and prosper like Dubai, a dream now overshadowed by the loss of his relative. “Unfortunately, that hope remains unfulfilled,” he remarked with a heavy heart.
Back in Sindh, Abdul Malick conveyed the family’s frustration over the lack of financial assistance from either the UAE or Pakistani authorities following Ali’s death. “It is deeply ironic that when he left Pakistan, we were relieved knowing he was heading to one of the safest countries in the world, only to receive his lifeless body later,” he said. Malick called for an urgent end to the conflict, emphasizing that innocent labourers like Ali should not be caught in the crossfire of international disputes. He also urged the UAE government to enhance protections and security measures for civilian workers, many of whom continue to face significant risks despite their crucial role in the Gulf economies.
