The United Nations has warned of a potential food crisis in Pakistan as severe monsoon rains and floods have inundated large areas of agricultural land, destroying thousands of acres of standing crops.
According to Turkey’s Anadolu Agency, farmers and UN officials report that the ongoing floods have already devastated northeastern Punjab, submerging villages, schools, health centers, and displacing thousands of people. Livestock has been washed away, and preliminary reports indicate at least 50 deaths. Over 2 million people have been affected, and more than 700,000 have been relocated to safer areas. The floodwaters are now moving south towards the Indus River, threatening further destruction in Sindh.
UN Humanitarian Coordinator Speaks
Muhammad Yahya, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Pakistan, visited the affected areas and described the situation as unprecedented. “This is not normal, but it is becoming the new normal. Climate-affected monsoon seasons now bring fear and destruction to populations across Pakistan,” he said.
Sharing video footage from flooded fields in Hafizabad, Yahya said, “As far as the eye can see, rice fields are submerged. Farmers will spend months without crops and income until the next planting season.”
He warned that more heavy rains are expected in the coming weeks. “As the waters move south, more families will be displaced and more destruction will occur. This is not just another natural disaster—it is climate change,” he added.
Farmers Confirm Crop Losses
Supporting the UN’s warnings, Waqar Ahmed, Secretary-General of the Pakistan Farmers Board, said the floods have destroyed three major crops—rice, sugarcane, and oilseeds—across Punjab. “The rice crop, in particular, has been badly affected because the floods hit the major rice-producing districts. Around 70% of standing rice crops have been lost,” he said.
He also cautioned that if neighboring India releases more floodwaters into Pakistan, additional crops could be severely damaged.
Impact on Food Prices
Waheed Ahmed, head of the Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association, warned that the floods could trigger food inflation. “Large-scale destruction of crops and vegetables in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will likely increase food prices. The government should remove import taxes on fruits and vegetables from Afghanistan and Iran to mitigate potential shortages,” he said.
