LAHORE, Sept 23, 2025: Record monsoon rains, compounded by dam releases from India, have triggered widespread flooding across Pakistan, striking both agricultural heartlands and industrial hubs.
The provinces of Punjab and Sindh – critical to the country’s economy and food production – have borne the brunt of the disaster.
Satellite data and local reports show that at least 220,000 hectares of rice fields have submerged, while floodwaters have inundated 1.8 million acres of farmland in Punjab alone.
Farmers report that flooding has damaged 50% of rice and 60% of cotton and maize crops, with overall losses potentially exceeding 2.5 million acres, valued at up to $3.53 billion. Floods have destroyed vegetable crops even more severely, with losses surpassing 90% in some districts.
The timing of the floods poses particular peril as Pakistan prepares for the wheat sowing season, a crop that provides nearly half of the nation’s caloric intake. Although farmers maintain strong national reserves following the 2024 harvest, delayed sowing could threaten future food security and push prices higher.
Officials have warned that the floods will likely set back Pakistan’s 2026 growth targets. The government had initially projected 4.2% GDP growth, but the central bank now expects growth to fall toward the lower end of its 3.25–4.25% range, describing the situation as a significant, though temporary, supply shock.
Experts caution that the human and economic toll may rival or even exceed the devastation of the 2022 floods. However, stronger foreign exchange reserves and lower interest rates may provide some buffer against the broader economic fallout.