JAMSHORO: In a quiet village in Pakistan’s southern province, Abdul Malick sat surrounded by grieving family members and neighbors, all offering their heartfelt condolences. The reason for their sorrow was the recent death of his nephew, Muzaffar Ali, a 27-year-old laborer who lost his life in Dubai last week. Ali was among two Pakistani nationals killed during retaliatory Iranian missile strikes targeting Gulf countries, a direct consequence of escalating hostilities following US-Israeli attacks on Iran that began two weeks ago.
The fatal incident occurred when debris from an intercepted projectile struck Ali’s vehicle, ending the life of the family’s primary breadwinner. Malick, standing beside Ali’s three young children, expressed the deep pain felt by the family. He lamented the harsh reality that innocent workers, far removed from the geopolitical conflict, are bearing the brunt of violence. “This is a profound tragedy for a family that depended entirely on him,” Malick said. “We have no involvement in this war, yet the poor are being sacrificed as collateral damage in a conflict they never chose.”
Muzaffar Ali had left his home in the Jamshoro district of Sindh province four years ago, seeking better opportunities in Dubai. His story reflects that of many Pakistanis who migrate to the Gulf region in search of employment, often in low-skilled labor sectors. Another victim, Murib Zaman, a 48-year-old father of five from Bannu in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, had spent 25 years working as a driver in the United Arab Emirates. Additionally, officials confirmed a third Pakistani was killed in a drone strike while fishing in Iranian waters, underscoring the widening impact of the conflict on Pakistani nationals.
Pakistan shares a lengthy border with Iran in the southwest, and the ongoing Middle Eastern tensions are increasingly reverberating within its borders. One immediate consequence has been a sharp rise in fuel prices, driven by surging oil costs, which has strained the everyday lives of ordinary Pakistanis. Moreover, the conflict has prompted the return of approximately 4,000 Pakistanis, including students, who had been residing in Iran. This situation highlights the fragile balance Pakistan must maintain amid regional instability.
Remittances from Gulf countries are a critical lifeline for Pakistan’s economy, accounting for roughly three to five percent of the country’s GDP. More than 5.5 million Pakistanis, many of whom are unskilled laborers, work predominantly in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The money they send home supports not only basic household expenses but also funds education, healthcare, and small businesses, thereby fueling domestic consumption and economic growth. Earlier this week, Pakistan’s central bank announced that foreign remittances reached $3.3 billion in February 2026, marking a 5.2 percent increase compared to the previous year.
Despite these challenges, most Pakistani workers currently remain in the Gulf region. The foreign ministry in Islamabad confirmed that the number of returnees is too small to be considered a significant exodus. However, analysts from Capital Economics caution that if the conflict continues, Gulf economies could suffer, which would have a ripple effect on remittance flows to South Asia, including Pakistan.
Reflecting on the personal toll of the conflict, Zaman’s cousin, Farmanullah, shared his hopes for his hometown of Bannu to develop and prosper like Dubai someday. “It is heartbreaking that this dream remains unfulfilled,” he said with a heavy heart. Meanwhile, in Sindh, Abdul Malick voiced his family’s frustration over the lack of financial assistance from either the UAE or Pakistani governments 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 body back later,” Malick remarked.
Malick concluded with a powerful plea for peace and protection. “We call for an immediate end to this conflict so that innocent laborers like Ali are no longer used as pawns in this war,” he urged. “We also demand that the UAE government take stronger measures to ensure the safety and security of civilian workers who contribute so much to their economy.” This tragic episode underscores the human cost of geopolitical strife and the urgent need for diplomatic solutions to safeguard vulnerable communities caught in the crossfire.
