ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is considering special relief packages for farmers to ensure timely sowing of the next crop, as the country struggles to recover from devastating floods.
The floods, triggered by relentless monsoon rains and glacial melt have submerged over 1.3 million acres of farmland, primarily in the Punjab province, destroying crops like rice, cotton, and sugarcane. The devastating floods are causing widespread disruption to food security, raising concerns about potential increases in food prices and the ability to meet export targets, according to Pakistan Business forum.
According to the Disaster Management Authority, extensive flooding triggered by record monsoon rains and rapid glacier melt has so far killed up to 1000 people and displaced or otherwise affected over 33 million across the country.
After visiting the flood stricken areas in district Toba Tek Singh on Sunday, Muhammad Aurangzeb, the country’s finance minister, told reporters that government has already imposed both a climate emergency and an agriculture emergency, underscoring efforts to protect food security while rehabilitating flood-hit communities.
Rehabilitation deadline set
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has given authorities a 100-day deadline to rehabilitate all flood victims, as relief operations continue across Punjab and other provinces. The finance minister reiterated the government’s commitment to using available resources for immediate aid, while seeking international assistance for reconstruction and long-term recovery.
The minister said loss assessments would be substantially completed within 15 days, forming the basis for broader talks with international financial institutions. Surveys are already under way in flood-affected districts to provide farmers with seeds and fertilizers in time for the coming planting season.
Aurangzeb n that a decline in international oil and commodity prices could benefit Pakistan directly. He said the government was determined to curb artificial inflation and provide immediate financial relief to citizens. Key measures already announced include waiving August electricity bills for flood victims, with adjustments for those who have already paid.
