Asim Riaz
Punjab is reeling from its worst floods in nearly four decades, with over 1.2 million hectares of land submerged. Fields that once grew rice, maize, and cotton now resemble inland seas. The devastation cuts across nearly every crop. *Rice losses are at 60%*, *sugarcane has been reduced by 30%*, and *cotton is facing a 35% decline*. Additionally, *maize, sesame, and vegetables have also been devastated*.
Experts warn that this is not just a seasonal calamity, as *salinity and soil erosion may choke wheat, rice, and sugarcane yields for years to come*. The land itself bears the scars, with the *cotton industry standing on thin ice*. Nearly *800,000 acres of early cotton are gone*, putting *textile exports, the backbone of Pakistan’s economy, at risk*. Factories may soon struggle to meet delivery schedules, and millions of livelihoods hang in the balance. As one analyst remarked, “Losing cotton is like pulling the rug out from under the economy.”
Stored wheat has not been spared, with warehouses across Punjab suffering water damage. Imports will now be needed to stabilize supply. For a government already battling fiscal deficits, this could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
The floods have struck at the fabric of rural life. *Over 2,100 villages are underwater*, and *more than 9,000 homes have been damaged, with at least 2,000 destroyed entirely*. Bridges and roads have been swept away, and supply chains for food, medicine, and fuel stand broken. It is as if an entire region has been cut adrift.
The humanitarian toll is rising. *One million people in Punjab have been evacuated*, and nationwide, more than 3.6 million are affected. The *death toll exceeds 850*. The Meteorological Department warns of further downpours in the coming days. Families speak of “losing everything overnight: a roof, a harvest, and a future.”
The United Nations has sounded the alarm, warning that *food prices are bound to climb* due to the destruction of rice, sugarcane, and sesame. *Inflation has already pushed crop prices 20% higher*, making daily bread unaffordable for many households.
This disaster is not solely an act of nature, but also a result of *climate change driving erratic monsoons*, *Pakistan’s deforestation of 27,000 hectares each year*, *urban sprawl on floodplains*, and *human neglect*.
The government response has been swift yet strained, with rescue teams and the military working round the clock. Roads are being cleared, villagers are being airlifted to safety, and relief camps and medical units are operating. However, analysts caution that Pakistan cannot treat this as a one-off disaster. *Without reforms in agriculture, water management, and land use, the next monsoon will bring déjà vu*. We should plan for *flood-resilient crops*, *stronger embankments*, *reforestation*, and *an end to reckless construction*. Dismantle illegal Housing Mafias for State’s Survival which has turned Pakistan into Plotistan. Our economy into a Casino!
