Faraz Saeed

ISLAMABAD: Floods have devastated Pakistan&rsquo;s agriculture, wiping out millions of acres of farmland in eastern Punjab province and threatening southern Sindh, causing losses of more than $1 billion and prompting urgent calls for an agricultural emergency.&nbsp;The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported that 1.8 million acres of crops in Punjab were submerged, while farmer organizations estimate the figure closer to 2.5 million acres, mostly in central and southern districts.&nbsp;PDMA also stated that 4.28 million people have been affected by the floods, with 2.26 million evacuated from submerged areas.&nbsp;A preliminary assessment by the Pakistan Business Forum estimates that 60% of the rice crop, 35% of cotton, and 30% of sugarcane have been wiped out.&nbsp;In a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the forum warned that Sindh province may soon face similar devastation if preventive measures are not implemented.&nbsp;Farmers&rsquo; groups report even greater financial damage. Akhtar Farooq Meo of the Kissan Board Pakistan cited losses amounting to Rs536 billion ($1.89 billion), pointing to the destruction of cotton, rice, sesame, maize, and fodder crops.&nbsp;Khalid Hussain Bath, president of Kissan Ittehad Pakistan, said nearly 2.5 million acres of cultivated land have been wiped out, raising concerns about food shortages in the flood-affected regions.&nbsp;Independent assessments emphasize the scale of the crisis. Brokerage firm Arif Habib Limited (AHL) projected the total cost of the 2025 floods at Rs409 billion ($1.4 billion), equal to 0.33% of Pakistan&rsquo;s GDP. Agriculture accounts for the bulk of losses, exceeding Rs302 billion ($1.0 billion), or 0.24% of GDP, nearly three-fourths of the overall impact.&nbsp;After a 6.2% growth in fiscal year 2022, Pakistan&rsquo;s GDP contracted by 0.2% in 2023 before rebounding to 2.5% in 2024.&nbsp;Pre-flood projections for fiscal year 2026 growth stood at 3.4%, but analysts have revised this down to 3.2%, as agriculture&rsquo;s contribution is expected to fall sharply from 2.2% to 1.1%.&nbsp;The agricultural sector, which comprises nearly a quarter of GDP and employs 40% of the workforce, was already struggling. Agriculture grew just 0.56% in 2024, the weakest in almost a decade and far below the five-year average of 3.38%. Analysts warn the floods could further drag down growth, compounding economic pressures.&nbsp;However, officials cautioned against premature conclusions. An official from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) told Pakistan TV that the agency has not yet been tasked with assessing the full extent of losses and &ldquo;no such survey has been carried out so far.&rdquo; PDMA Director Hameed Ullah Malik also said it was &ldquo;too early to endorse any assessment&rdquo; since large parts of southern Punjab remain underwater.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced a flood relief package, pledging Rs1 million ($3,521) for the heirs of those killed and Rs1 million for homeowners who lost property. Partially damaged homes will receive Rs500,000 ($1,760). Livestock owners will also be compensated, Rs500,000 for large animals and Rs50,000 ($176) for small animals.&nbsp;At the federal level, the cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared a climate and agriculture emergency and formed a special committee under Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal to propose economic recovery measures.

Residents travel on a boat with their supplies, through a flooded area, following monsoon rains and rising water levels of the Indus River, in Ghano Khan Jatoi village in Dadu district, Sindh province, Pakistan, September 12, 2025. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

Climate & Environment

Floods devastate Pakistan’s farmland, destroying millions of acres, wiping out crops, and triggering a potential over $1 billion economic loss across agriculture.

Floods ravage Pakistan’s farmlands, causing $1 billion in losses

Reuters

KARACHI: The International Monetary Fund expressed deep condolences on Saturday for the loss of life caused by Pakistan&#39;s devastating floods and said its upcoming Extended Fund Facility review mission will evaluate whether the country&#39;s fiscal policies and emergency provisions can effectively address the crisis, a senior IMF official said. &quot;The mission will assess whether the FY26 budget, its spending allocations and emergency provisions remain sufficiently agile to address the spending needs necessitated by the floods,&quot; said Mahir Binici, the IMF&rsquo;s resident representative in Pakistan. The flash floods have killed 972 people so far, according to Pakistan&#39;s National Disaster Management Authority. The floods have destroyed crops, livestock and homes across Punjab province and are now pushing into Sindh, threatening fresh food inflation and deeper hardship in the cash-strapped South Asian nation. Pakistan&#39;s central bank is expected to keep its key rate at 11% on Monday, a Reuters poll showed, as policymakers weigh inflation risks from crop losses against a slowing economy. An analyst estimated agricultural damage could shave up to 0.2 percentage points off growth this year, with reconstruction-led demand offering only partial offset. IMF&#39;s board approved a fresh $1.4 billion loan in May to help Pakistan strengthen its economic resilience to climate vulnerabilities and natural disasters. The disbursement of funds is contingent upon successful completion of reviews under the EFF, the official said. The Global Climate Risk Index places Pakistan among the countries most vulnerable to climate change.

IMF expresses condolences over Pakistan floods; upcoming review will assess fiscal response and emergency measures amid ongoing crisis.

IMF says Pakistan's flood spending, budget agility to be reviewed

Maham Khan

The former foreign minister demanded that the country’s federal government urgently launch an international aid appeal for devastating floods. 

Bilawal Bhutto calls for immediate global aid as floods devastate millions

Web Desk

LAHORE: More than 4.28 million people have been affected by severe flooding in Punjab, Pakistan, with over two million evacuated from submerged areas, officials say.&nbsp;The worst-hit areas lie along the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers, which have flooded more than 4,500 villages and destroyed nearly 1.8 million acres of crops. Around 1.69 million animals have been rescued and relocated to safety.&nbsp;Evacuations and relief effortsPunjab&rsquo;s Information Minister, Azma Bukhari, described the situation in Jalalpur Pirwala as serious but said better arrangements had helped save the city. She noted that more than 13,600 people were moved to safety in the last three days alone, with total rescues reaching about 2.3 million.&nbsp;The government has set up relief camps, medical facilities, and veterinary centres to support those affected. So far, the floods have claimed 76 lives in the province.&nbsp;Dam levelsIn Multan, the Chenab River breached 394.5 feet, prompting evacuations and road closures. Traffic has been diverted in several areas due to unsafe conditions.&nbsp;Dam levels remain high with Mangla at 90% capacity, Tarbela full, and several Indian dams near capacity. Officials say the monsoon rains are easing and water flows should stabilise soon.&nbsp;While flooding eases in northern Punjab, southern districts continue to face difficult conditions as rescue and relief work goes on.&nbsp;Rising food prices Azma Bukhari warned the government would not allow prices of flour to rise artificially and vowed to act against those hoarding wheat stocks.&nbsp;The floods come amid one of the heaviest monsoon seasons in recent history, causing widespread devastation across Pakistan and exposing the vulnerabilities of many communities.

More than 4.28 million people have been affected by severe flooding in Punjab, Pakistan, with over two million evacuated from submerged areas, officials say.

Articles tagged with "pakistan floods"

Floods ravage Pakistan’s farmlands, causing $1 billion in losses

IMF says Pakistan's flood spending, budget agility to be reviewed

Bilawal Bhutto calls for immediate global aid as floods devastate millions

Punjab floods leave millions displaced as rescue work continues