Pakistan is grappling with worsening monsoon floods in Punjab after India warned of fresh inflows into the Sutlej River from its Harike and Ferozepur headworks. The warning, conveyed via the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, comes at a time when the province is already struggling with high flood levels at Trimmu and Panjnad headworks due to heavy rains in the upper catchment areas.
Official data shows Punjab’s emergency has escalated, with 46 deaths, the displacement of 1.8 million people, and 1.3 million acres of farmland submerged over the last two weeks. Nearly 3.9 million people across 3,900 villages have been affected, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed confirmed that over 1.8 million residents had been relocated to safer areas. Authorities have established 415 relief camps, 466 medical camps, and 398 veterinary camps, while more than 1.3 million animals have also been moved to safety.
The NDMA reports that since June 26, rains and floods have killed at least 884 people nationwide, reviving memories of the 2022 disaster when a third of Pakistan was submerged. Officials warn of worsening conditions in Sindh, where districts such as Sukkur, Ghotki, Larkana, Khairpur, Dadu, Jacobabad, Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, and Karachi remain at risk.
First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, while visiting embankments near Nawabshah, emphasised preparedness, coordination, and proactive planning to protect vulnerable communities.
Pakistan, one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, continues to face increasingly erratic weather patterns linked to climate change. The monsoon, which provides up to 80% of the country’s annual rainfall and is vital for agriculture, has once again turned into a destructive force.
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