Severe Flooding Displaces Two Million in Pakistan’s Punjab Province
Pakistan’s Punjab province is currently grappling with its worst floods on record, displacing two million people as three major rivers—Sutlej, Chenab, and Ravi—reach unprecedented water levels, officials announced on Sunday, reports 24brussels.
Provincial senior minister Maryam Aurangzeb characterized the flood as an unprecedented disaster. “This is the biggest flood in the history of Punjab. The flood has affected two million people. It’s the first time that the three rivers have carried such high levels of water,” she stated during a press briefing.
In response to the crisis, authorities have repurposed schools, police stations, and other facilities into rescue centers. Evacuation efforts are underway using boats. Additionally, Aurangzeb mentioned that “the Foreign Ministry is collecting data regarding India’s deliberate release of water into Pakistan.” Although New Delhi recently alerted Islamabad about potential flooding, it has not provided further comments, marking the first official communication between the two nations since earlier tensions escalated this year.
According to Pakistan’s weather center, Punjab has experienced 26.5 percent more monsoon rainfall from July 1 to August 27 compared to the same period last year. Nationwide, rain-related incidents since June 26 have resulted in 849 fatalities and 1,130 injuries, as reported by the National Disaster Management Authority.
Punjab, home to approximately 150 million people, is crucial to Pakistan’s agriculture and serves as the country’s primary wheat-producing region. Flooding in 2022 severely damaged vast areas of farmland, prompting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to issue warnings about impending food shortages. With the monsoon season anticipated to extend through September, authorities are preparing for continued threats to agricultural production and food security.
This crisis starkly illustrates Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change, alongside ongoing tensions related to cross-border river management with India.
