The Punjab government has unveiled a Rs. 500 billion relief package to help families affected by recent devastating floods. Millions living along three major rivers lost homes, crops, and livestock due to the disaster.
The package will provide financial assistance through Punjab Relief Cards. Families whose homes were completely destroyed will receive Rs. 1 million, while partially damaged homes will get Rs. 500,000. Preliminary assessments show around 63,200 brick houses and over 309,000 mud houses were damaged. Compensation will also cover livestock losses, including cows and buffaloes.
Farmers will receive Rs. 20,000 per acre for destroyed crops. The plan also includes funds for repairing roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure. Officials described it as one of the largest rehabilitation initiatives in recent years.
Floods have severely impacted Punjab’s agriculture and industrial sectors, causing significant economic losses. The province had expected 4.2% growth in 2026, driven by agriculture and manufacturing. However, record monsoon rains and dam releases from India disrupted these projections.
Punjab’s disaster management authority reported that at least 1.8 million acres of farmland remain underwater. About 50% of rice and 60% of cotton and maize crops have been destroyed. Total losses could surpass 2.5 million acres, valued at over Rs. 1 trillion ($3.5 billion), according to the Pakistan Farmers Association.
Experts say the destruction is comparable to the catastrophic 2022 floods, with some areas facing even worse impacts. Former University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Iqrar Ahmad Khan warned that nearly 10% of the country’s crops have been lost, with vegetable losses reaching 90% in several districts.
The timing of the floods is critical as Pakistan prepares for wheat sowing, which provides nearly half of the nation’s caloric intake. While reserves from the 2024 harvest remain stable, waterlogged fields may delay sowing, raising concerns over food security in Punjab.
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