Floods wipe out crops worth Rs529 billion

The Senate was informed on Tuesday that the agricultural sector of the country sustained Rs529 billion losses during the recent floods that wiped out 40% of the standing crops, while the livestock sector suffered a loss of Rs102 billion, as 1.158 million cattle heads were perished.

The session, chaired by Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, passed the Railways Amendment Act. Also during the session, the opposition protested against the remarks of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) member Maula Bukhsh Chandio and staged walkout.

The National Food Security Ministry presented details of the flood losses in the country. It said the Rs394 billion crops losses were sustained in Sindh, Rs82 billion were lost in Punjab; Rs63 billion in Balochistan, Rs17 billion in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Rs1 billion in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

In its written reply, the ministry added that overall 40% of the crops, spreading over 5,098,963 acres, were damaged. The ministry said that Sindh sustained the most damage, where 79% of the crops were destroyed. Elsewhere, the losses were 53% in Balochistan, 15% in Punjab, 14% in K-P and 25% of AJK.

During the session, the Foreign Ministry presented details of the Pakistani citizens languishing in Chinese jails. The house was informed that 236 Pakistanis, including women, were incarcerated in Chinese jails. It added that 81 Pakistani prisoners had been released after completing their sentences in China.

Meanwhile, the house unanimously passed the Railways Amendment Bill 2022. Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar said that the imprisonment Railway Act carried the capital punishment and life for attacking railway installations but the fine over damaging railway installations was very low.

Taking the floor, Opposition Leader Dr Shehzad Waseem, protested against the “use of religion card” and “hate-speech” in the house during its sitting the other day. He further said that PTI Chairman Imran Khan was currently at the centre of the Pakistani politics. “The government is going down a dangerous path.”

Senator Maulana Atta Rahman of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) expressed his concern over “the wave of terrorism” resurfacing in the Swat district. These people cannot fulfil their agenda in the presence of our political parties,: he added.

Speaking in the house Senator Chandio criticised Senator Zarqa Taimur of the PTI, saying that she was preparing women for a sit-in. The opposition protested against Chandio and staged a walkout. Later, the session was adjourned until Friday over lack of quorum.