Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal said that an initial estimate of the flood has inflicted a loss of Rs 500 billion and badly affected the economy and the agriculture sector of the country.
The recent floods have once again pushed us back in agriculture and the economy. This time, the government will focus on self-reliance instead of external aid or loans, and it will bid farewell to foreign donations.
He was also flanked by Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb. Aurangzen said that the IMF has understood the serious situation. They are taking steps to stop artificial inflation. They will do whatever has to be done under the environmental and agricultural emergency.
Announcing the relief package for the flood victims on Sunday, the Prime Minister said that the recent rains and floods have caused a lot of destruction in the country. In this context, he has decided that the electricity bills of household consumers in the flood-affected areas for August are being waived.
Household consumers will no longer have to pay August bills. This is the right of the flood victims; no one is showing them any favours. Household consumers in the affected areas who have paid their August electricity bills will be refunded this amount in the next month’s electricity bill.
“It is our responsibility to help the flood victims, and once again I reiterate my commitment to the complete rehabilitation of the flood-affected areas and assure the victims that we will not rest until every flood-affected person is resettled in their home.”
Ahsan Iqbal said that the recent floods have once again pushed us back in agriculture and the economy, but there is no need to panic; we have to learn from such losses. Agricultural experts and ministers from all four provinces have been called to help the farmers recover.
We will remedy the losses of farmers through consultation. Even after promises in 2022, the world did not provide aid. This time, the priority is not the aid of others but self-reliance. Ahsan Iqbal said that the 2025 floods have once again shown us that climate change is not a future threat but a present reality. Today’s distribution is not just the provision of relief goods; it is a message of solidarity and hope.
Read also: Govt committed to rehabilitate flood affected people: Finance Minister
