PUNJAB: Punjab, Pakistan’s agricultural heartland, is enduring one of its worst floods in decades, with three major rivers in a “super flood” state. On Friday, authorities deliberately breached a section of the Sutlej embankment to protect Kasur from being consumed by surging waters.
At least 28 people have died so far, mostly in Gujranwala division, where flash floods and urban deluges caused heavy destruction. While water levels in the Ravi and Chenab are receding in upper regions, downstream flows remain a growing threat. The Sutlej, meanwhile, has swollen to its highest point since 1955.
Floodwaters have already reached Lahore’s outskirts and threatened Jhang, marking the worst flooding in nearly four decades. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast more widespread rain, wind, and thunderstorms across Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Islamabad, and northern Balochistan, raising the risk of flash floods, landslides, and urban inundation.
According to official figures, more than 1.45 million people across 1,769 villages in Punjab have been affected. Over 429,000 residents have been rescued, while more than 300,000 livestock have been moved to safer areas. Relief agencies have established 365 camps to accommodate displaced families.
At Shahdara in Lahore, the Ravi swelled to 220,000 cusecs — its highest surge since 1988. Authorities say flows at several headworks, including Marala, Khanki, and Qadirabad, remain under control, but downstream pressure continues to mount. The Sutlej also poses grave danger, with flows above 200,000 cusecs sustained for four consecutive days near Kasur.
Residents returning to inundated homes described catastrophic losses. Nazia Nasir, a mother of four, said her family’s house had collapsed, leaving them with nothing. Others, like Nasima Bibi, remain stranded on roadside camps, awaiting receding waters.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced an emergency meeting with provincial leaders to formulate a climate resilience strategy, including the construction of water reservoirs across all provinces and regions. The government stressed that climate change is an undeniable reality and called for collective action to mitigate future disasters.
