(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Floods Devastate Pakistan’s Punjab Farmlands, Hit Rice Crops Hardest
Heavy floods have wreaked havoc in Pakistan’s Punjab province, wiping out over 2.2 million acres of farmland and dealing a major blow to the country’s agriculture sector. According to Samaa News, rice crops took the biggest hit, with more than 1 million acres of standing rice production lost to the raging waters.
The disaster has submerged vast stretches of farmland in Punjab, damaging key crops like rice, sugarcane, corn, and cotton. Officials report that sugarcane fields covering 2.5 million acres suffered severe destruction, while corn and cotton plantations also faced heavy losses. These floods, which started in late August, have not only ruined harvests but also worsened food insecurity in the region.
In neighboring Sindh province, the impact feels lighter, but up to 3% of the onion crop got damaged, especially in the Kachha areas. Overall, the floods displaced over 2 million people in Punjab, flooded around 2,000 villages, and swept away huge areas of productive land.
The Punjab government jumped into action, rescuing nearly 1.9 million people and setting up over 1,000 relief camps. They even deployed mobile health units to help those affected. However, ground reports paint a tougher picture—many villages stay isolated, and aid reaches them only now and then.
Health issues are piling up too. In the last month, Punjab recorded over 15,400 cases of dengue, diarrhea, malaria, and skin diseases linked to the flood conditions.
To tackle the recovery, Pakistan’s federal government plans to team up with international groups like UN agencies for a full damage assessment. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal led a key meeting with the finance minister and NDMA officials, announcing that an initial report on losses will wrap up in 10 days. He stressed that accurate final numbers will come only after floodwaters completely drain away.
As Pakistan battles these devastating floods, experts worry about long-term effects on the agricultural economy and food supply. Relief efforts continue, but the road to rebuilding looks challenging.
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