Punjab Floods Ravage 2.2m Acres of Crops, Rice Worst Hit

News Desk

Islamabad: The devastating floods of 2025 have inflicted severe damage on Punjab’s agricultural economy, submerging more than 2.2 million acres of farmland and destroying key crops.

According to provincial authorities, rice has been the worst hit, with losses estimated at over one million acres of standing production. Sugarcane spread across 2.5 million acres has also been damaged, while corn and cotton fields have faced extensive destruction.

Officials said the federal government has been apprised of the worsening situation, with proposals under consideration to waive taxes and irrigation fees for farmers in the most-affected districts, including Hafizabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujranwala, Gujrat, and Multan.

In contrast, the impact in Sindh has remained limited. Only about three percent of the onion crop has been affected, as floodwaters stayed largely within river limits, sparing the broader agricultural belt. Damage has been mostly confined to the Kachha areas.

At the federal level, authorities have decided to involve international organisations, including UN agencies, to help assess the scale of losses and identify recovery needs. The World Bank is also monitoring the situation and holding consultations on possible recovery measures.

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who chaired a high-level meeting with the finance minister and NDMA officials, said an initial loss assessment would be completed within ten days. However, he stressed that final figures would only be available once floodwaters fully recede.

Iqbal warned that disasters such as floods and droughts are direct consequences of climate change, reiterating Pakistan’s high vulnerability. He added that, as in the 2022 floods, international institutions will provide input to ensure transparent and accurate damage assessments.