Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal stated on Sunday that recent flash floods have caused estimated losses of Rs 500 billion, affecting agriculture and the broader economy. He said that the government would focus on self-reliance rather than seeking foreign aid or loans to address the crisis.
Speaking to agricultural expert Javed Saleem Qureshi and Institute of Engineers Pakistan Secretary General Amir Zameer Khan, Iqbal said, “There is no need to panic; we must learn from the losses.” He noted that agricultural experts and ministers from all four provinces had been called to discuss the flood situation and rehabilitation of farmers.
“The losses of farmers will be remedied through consultation. Even after promises in 2022, the world did not provide assistance. This time, self-reliance is the priority, not aid from others,” he said.
In a related development, the National Highway Authority (NHA) reported that M5 had been closed at Jalalpur Pirwala due to risk of breach, with sandbags and stones deployed to protect the motorway. PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia confirmed the closure and said measures were underway to secure the road.
The Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) issued an alert for the 11th spell of monsoon rains from September 16 to 19, warning of potential flooding in rivers and drains. The PDMA reported 104 deaths in the province and said 4.57 million people across 4,700 villages had been affected. Relief operations have shifted 2.512 million people and more than 2.019 million animals to safer locations.
A total of 392 relief camps, 493 medical camps, and 422 veterinary camps have been established in affected districts. Punjab Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed stated that Mangla Dam is 93% full, while Tarbela Dam has reached 100% capacity.
