Pakistan Faces $2.9 Billion in Damages After Floods

Pakistan has suffered an estimated $2.9 billion in losses due to the recent floods that caused widespread destruction across the country, Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Minister Ahsan Iqbal announced.

Speaking at the launch of the preliminary damage assessment report, Iqbal said the total losses are valued at around 822 billion rupees ($2.9 billion). Of this, 430 billion rupees ($1.53 billion) were recorded in the agricultural sector, while infrastructure losses reached 307 billion rupees ($1.1 billion).

According to the report, the floods damaged about 229,000 homes nationwide, along with 2,811 kilometers of roads, 790 bridges, 129 public buildings, 2,267 schools, 243 health facilities, 1,297 commercial zones, and 86 water infrastructure sites, including pumping stations and reservoirs.

The report warned that the overall economic impact of the floods could slow Pakistan’s GDP growth by between 0.3 and 0.7 percentage points for the 2025–2026 fiscal year (July 2025 to June 2026). This would lower growth forecasts to between 3.5% and 3.9%, down from the earlier projection of 4.2%. Unemployment is also expected to rise by around 220,000 people.

In the agricultural sector, the losses include between 3 and 3.4 million cotton bales, one million tons of rice, and between 1.3 and 3.3 million tons of sugarcane. Iqbal noted that the scale of damage depends largely on how long floodwaters remain stagnant in affected regions.

The minister stressed that these initial estimates will form the foundation for the government’s recovery and reconstruction efforts. The plan focuses on rebuilding vital infrastructure, restoring livelihoods, and strengthening resilience against future climate-related disasters.