Floods Wash Away Millions of Fish in Punjab

Dr Saeed Ahmad Ali

Lahore: Pakistan’s growing fish farming industry—long seen as a promising contributor to food security and rural livelihoods—is now facing one of its most serious setbacks in years.

The recent floods that swept across Punjab’s low-lying plains have caused extensive destruction to fish farms, leaving farmers counting heavy losses and experts warning of an impending crisis in both production and market supply.

Fish farming, concentrated largely in Punjab and Sindh, has expanded rapidly over the past decade.

With an estimated 13,000 operational farms nationwide, the sector includes both large-scale commercial ventures and smaller family-run operations. Yet, what took years to build was undone in a matter of days as floodwaters inundated key aquaculture regions, including Kasur, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, and Muzaffargarh.

According to sources in the Punjab Fisheries Department, dozens of farms were either completely destroyed or partially damaged. Torrential flows washed away millions of fish, demolished earthen pond boundaries, and damaged water management structures. Initial assessments suggest that financial losses could run into crores of rupees.

Production Drops, Prices Set to Rise

The impact of these losses is already rippling through local markets. Lahore Fish Market President Chaudhry Islam said that fish supplies from southern and central Punjab to Lahore have dropped by nearly 40 percent. “We used to receive truckloads of fish daily,” he explained. “Now, the inflow has slowed drastically. Prices may rise by 30 to 40 percent in the coming days if this situation continues.”

Experts estimate that overall fish production has declined by about 40 percent, with stock losses worth billions of rupees. The shortfall is expected to drive up consumer prices and tighten the availability of affordable protein sources, especially for lower-income households.

Farmers Struggle

The Fish Farmers Association has called for immediate government intervention to prevent a wave of bankruptcies. Many small and medium-scale farmers have lost everything—from livestock to infrastructure.

The average cost of raising fish per acre ranges between Rs650,000 and Rs700,000, and thousands of acres have been affected. The association’s internal estimates indicate the loss of millions of fish, including baby fish, across Punjab’s aquaculture zones.

Fateh Muhammad, a fish farmer from Mandi Bahauddin, invested Rs3 million in developing a fish farm near Qadirabad Barrage, only to see it completely submerged. “All my ponds are gone, and every fish was washed away,” he lamented. In Muzaffargarh, another farmer, Mohsin Zaheer, expressed concern over repaying his bank loan after losing his entire stock. “If the government doesn’t step in soon, I’ll have to shut down,” he said.

Relief Measures

Punjab Fisheries Director General Rana Saleem Afzal confirmed that all flood-affected districts have been instructed to compile detailed damage assessment reports for both fish and shrimp farms. These reports will form the basis of the provincial government’s relief measures.

“The government is fully aware of the scale of damage,” he told APP. “We are collecting data from every affected area and will submit comprehensive reports to ensure that appropriate relief is extended to the farmers.”

The Punjab government has pledged to introduce a relief package. The Fish Farmers Association, however, is urging immediate actions such as loan waivers, low-interest credit, and financial assistance for rebuilding ponds, replacing damaged solar panels, and restoring water pumps and pond boundaries.

Economic-Environmental Implications

The floods have also disrupted the production of key fish species, particularly Kalba Rahu, whose supply is expected to decline sharply. Experts predict that certain varieties could see price hikes of up to 45 percent.

Beyond the economic strain, the disaster underscores a broader vulnerability: the growing influence of climate change on Pakistan’s agricultural and aquaculture systems. Erratic rainfall patterns and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, posing new challenges to the sustainability of fish farming.

Currently, Pakistan has 60,000 to 65,000 acres of land dedicated to aquaculture, producing various carp species and prawns. Yet, experts warn that without stronger climate adaptation measures, the sector’s growth could stagnate.

A Long Road to Recovery

As floodwaters recede, the daunting task of rebuilding begins. For many farmers, restarting operations will require significant investment and government assistance. The Punjab Fisheries Department continues to coordinate recovery efforts, but with preliminary estimates already pointing to hundreds of millions in losses, the road to recovery appears long and uncertain.

Despite the devastation, industry stakeholders remain hopeful. “Fish farming is crucial for Pakistan’s food security,” said DG Afzal. “With the right support, we can help farmers recover and make the sector more resilient to future climate shocks.”

Until that happens, however, thousands of fish farmers across Punjab continue to wait—caught between mounting debts, lost livelihoods, and the uncertain promise of aid—hoping their ponds, and their futures, can once again be restored.