TODAY’S PAPER | September 18, 2025 | EPAPER

Flood loss estimates balloon

Punjab govt pledges swift rehabilitation


Imran Adnan September 18, 2025 1 min read
Chief Secretary Punjab Zahid Akhtar Zaman

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LAHORE:

Rehabilitation of flood victims is now the top priority of the Punjab government, Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman said while presiding over a meeting.

He said additional tents and food supplies are being dispatched to flood-hit areas.

The official announced that more than 2,000 teams will soon begin a comprehensive survey across 28 districts to document casualties, damaged homes, destroyed crops, and livestock losses. The effort is aimed at ensuring a transparent assessment of the devastation caused by the recent floods. To ensure transparency, Zaman directed deputy commissioners to conduct on-site monitoring.

He also issued instructions for water drainage, disease prevention, sanitation, and road repairs. Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed briefed officials on aid operations during the meeting..

The chief secretary ordered additional tents and ration for affected communities in Uch Sharif and instructed the Bahawalpur deputy commissioner to oversee relief efforts. He stressed that the restoration of homes, farmland, and livelihoods will be carried out in line with directives from the chief minister.

Authorities reported that the flooding has affected more than 4,500 villages.

In 18 districts, surveys are already under way, while in 10 others they will begin after Thursday.

Residents in Narowal, Sialkot, Chiniot, Jhang, Okara, Sahiwal, and Sargodha have started returning home.

Punjab's agriculture sector has borne heavy losses.

Provincial data shared with federal authorities shows more than 2.2 million acres of farmland has been submerged, with rice crops hit hardest. Around a million acres of standing rice crop are estimated to have been destroyed, along with 250,000 acres of sugarcane. Corn and cotton have also been damaged.

Officials indicated that several districts, including Hafizabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujranwala, Gujrat, and Multan, may be declared calamity-hit, which could allow waiver of land and water taxes for farmers.

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