ISLAMABAD (Pakistan Post Canada) – Federal Minister for Planning and Development, Ahsan Iqbal, has revealed that the recent floods have caused a loss of Rs50 billion to Punjab’s economy, with millions of acres of standing crops destroyed and millions of people affected.
Speaking at a relief distribution ceremony in Narowal, the minister said that 4.3% of Punjab’s agricultural area has been devastated, directly impacting 4.5 million people. He stressed that this calamity is a stark reminder that climate change is not a future threat but a present reality.
Ahsan Iqbal stated that unlike the past, the government will now focus on self-reliance rather than relying on loans or external aid. “Today’s distribution is not just about providing relief supplies; it is a message of solidarity and hope,” he said.
Meanwhile, Punjab’s Relief Commissioner confirmed that 4,700 villages have been badly affected and 104 people have lost their lives due to the disaster. He added that an urgent meeting of agricultural departments from all four provinces has been convened to discuss the damage and recovery measures.
