Pakistan Business Forum Urges Agricultural Emergency Amid Devastating Flood Losses
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) has urged the federal government to declare an Agricultural Emergency as severe flooding devastates Punjab and threatens similar destruction in Sindh. The forum has warned that the crisis could endanger national food security, rural livelihoods, and economic stability.
Massive Crop Losses Reported
In a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the PBF revealed alarming preliminary assessments:
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60% of rice crop destroyed
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35% of cotton lost
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30% of sugarcane affected
These losses, concentrated in central and southern Punjab, already amount to billions of rupees. Over 1.8 million people across the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej basins have been severely affected, with floodwaters now moving toward Sindh along the Indus River.
Call for Immediate Relief
The PBF stressed that the current crisis is “no time for business as usual.” It proposed urgent government action, including:
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Declaring an official Agricultural Emergency
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Providing interest-free loans up to Rs2 million for small and medium-sized farmers
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Launching critical canal infrastructure projects in Punjab and Sindh to improve water management
Long-Term Reforms Needed
Beyond immediate aid, the forum recommended structural reforms to prevent future disasters:
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Removing illegal encroachments along riverbanks
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Strengthening irrigation and revenue departments
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Introducing community-level water storage systems
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Activating district price control committees to prevent hoarding and profiteering
The PBF also urged the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) to authorise wheat and rice imports through both public and private channels to maintain price stability in local markets.
A Wake-Up Call for Food Security
Khawaja Mehboob ur Rehman, President of the PBF, warned that Pakistan must stop viewing floods only as disasters and start managing them as resources.
“This crisis must be treated as a wake-up call to reform agricultural strategies,” he said, adding that the forum stands ready to assist the government in designing a sustainable agricultural framework.
Rising Pressure on Government
With floodwaters advancing and relief operations stretched thin, the PBF’s call highlights growing pressure on both federal and provincial governments to act quickly. Swift measures are seen as essential to protect farmers, stabilise food supplies, and safeguard the economy from prolonged damage.
