Punjab is reeling from its worst flooding in decades, with more than two million people affected as swollen rivers swept away villages, farmland, and livestock. The provincial disaster management authority confirmed over 2,000 villages inundated, 33 deaths, and the evacuation of 760,000 people alongside 516,000 animals.
Farmers face devastation. Muhammad Amjad of Chiniot said 13 of his 15 acres were destroyed: “Our rice is gone. Women and children have left. Men are guarding what remains.” Livestock owners like Amish Sultan reported no milk left even for their children. Labourer Mehdi Hassan described entire neighbourhoods washed away.
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Officials warn the impact on agriculture will be staggering. Rice, maize, cotton, and sugarcane fields are under water, threatening both exports and domestic prices. Cotton losses could cripple Pakistan’s textile sector, which accounts for over half of exports. Analysts expect wheat shortages, food inflation, and rising import needs.
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Relief efforts continue. Authorities have set up more than 500 camps, while NGOs provide medical and veterinary support. Yet, with rains forecast and major dams nearing capacity, the crisis shows no sign of easing.
