Billions Lost as Floods Devastate Crops: PBF Calls for Agri-Emergency

The Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) has urged the federal government to declare an Agricultural Emergency, as unprecedented floods wipe out major crops in Punjab and threaten food security across the country.

• Initial estimates suggest the loss of 60% of rice, 35% of cotton, and 30% of sugarcane in central and southern Punjab.
• Over 1.8 million people living along the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers have been severely affected. Floodwaters are now moving towards Sindh, sparking fears of further devastation.

Economic Impact

• Losses are already running into billions of rupees, endangering livelihoods in rural areas and putting stress on Pakistan’s fragile economy.
• The PBF has warned that current agricultural targets will likely be missed, raising risks for food shortages and higher inflation.

PBF’s Recommendations

• Declare an Agricultural Emergency to mobilize resources and focus relief.
• Provide interest-free loans of up to Rs2 million for small and medium farmers to help them replant and recover.
• Launch new canal infrastructure projects in Punjab and Sindh to improve water management.
• Remove illegal encroachments along riverbanks and strengthen provincial irrigation systems.
• Introduce community-level water storage systems for long-term resilience.
• Activate district price control committees to stop hoarding and profiteering of food staples.
• Authorize imports of wheat and rice through both public and private channels to ensure domestic price stability.

A Call for Urgency

PBF President Khawaja Mehboob ur Rehman said:

“This crisis must be treated as a wake-up call. We must stop viewing floods only as disasters and start managing them as resources.”

He added that the forum is ready to work with the government to design a policy framework for agricultural stability and food security.

Way Forward

While the government has been praised for managing multiple national challenges, the PBF has stressed that the scale of agricultural devastation demands an urgent, coordinated response.

The call reflects growing public and institutional pressure for bold measures to not only tackle the current emergency but also lay down long-term reforms for Pakistan’s most vital sector — agriculture.

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