Published on: September 3, 2025 4:15 PM
Flash floods have destroyed vast stretches of farmland in Punjab, causing massive damage to major crops and threatening Pakistan’s food security. Preliminary reports reveal that around 60 percent of rice crops and 30 percent of sugarcane have been lost to the disaster. Cotton production is also expected to drop by nearly 35 percent compared to the annual target. These losses are being described as unprecedented and are already worsening the country’s fragile economy.
Experts warn that the destruction of crops in Punjab, which produces 68 percent of Pakistan’s total food grains, could lead to a severe shortage of essential commodities. Farmers in Central Punjab have been hit the hardest, with entire fields submerged under floodwaters. In addition to food insecurity, this crisis is also likely to increase unemployment as agricultural workers lose their livelihoods. The combined effect is raising concerns of an economic and humanitarian emergency across the province.
Agricultural leaders described the flooding as the most destructive in decades, with farmers facing both immediate crop losses and long-term recovery challenges. They stressed that the scale of the damage goes beyond ordinary seasonal flooding, highlighting the impact of worsening climate conditions. Communities dependent on agriculture are now in urgent need of support, not just to recover crops but also to restore livelihoods. The destruction has brought into question the province’s ability to meet national food demands.
Meanwhile, the flooding has claimed more than 850 lives across the country and displaced over two million people, turning the agricultural disaster into a full-scale humanitarian crisis. Families have lost both homes and farmland, leaving them without shelter or income. Relief efforts are underway, but continuous rainfall has hampered rescue operations in several districts. Authorities are urging residents in flood-prone areas to move to safer locations as weather warnings remain in place.
The finance ministry has also raised alarm, warning that crop destruction will add pressure on already strained fiscal resources and disrupt critical food supply chains. Rising food prices are expected to increase inflation, affecting millions of households nationwide. This comes at a time when Pakistan is already struggling with economic instability and high living costs, compounding the hardships faced by ordinary citizens.
Looking ahead, the Meteorological Department has forecast more heavy rains in the coming week, heightening fears of additional flooding and further crop damage. Authorities remain on high alert and are coordinating relief operations, but recovery is expected to be long and difficult. Experts stress that immediate measures are needed to protect vulnerable communities and stabilize food supply chains before the crisis deepens further.
