Pakistan reels from catastrophic floods in Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan, with homes destroyed, families displaced, and crops lost, as political discord undermines relief efforts and deepens public despair….reports Asian Lite News
Pakistan is reeling from one of its worst flooding disasters in recent years, as swollen rivers and torrential rains wreak havoc across Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB). Entire communities have been submerged, crops destroyed, infrastructure obliterated, and thousands forced to abandon their homes in desperate search of safety. The crisis is deepening by the day, with relief operations struggling to keep pace with the devastation and political tensions further complicating the situation.
In Bahawalnagar district, Punjab, the Sutlej River has surged to perilous levels, unleashing torrents of water that have overwhelmed protective embankments and engulfed hundreds of villages. Chishtian city has been among the worst hit, with strong currents causing severe erosion and collapsing key embankments at Motianwala Pattan and Moza Azeem. The breaches flooded more than 100 villages, sweeping away houses, crops, and livestock. Officials estimate that nearly 10,000 acres of fertile farmland have been destroyed, with key road networks washed away, cutting off access to remote settlements.
Thousands of residents have been displaced, with many appealing for urgent relief. Local rescue teams, led by the district police, report that over 80 per cent of the affected population and livestock have been shifted to safer ground. Yet water levels remain dangerously high under the Baba Farid Bridge and Bhookan Pattan Bridge, with fresh breaches reported at Chaweka and Bahadurka. The Chaweka Sutlej Road has been completely washed away, severing ground links and complicating evacuation efforts. Authorities confirmed that more than 150,000 cusecs of water is currently flowing in from Head Sulemanki, raising fears of further flooding.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued an “exceptionally high flood” warning for the Chenab River, with Director General Irfan Ali Kathia warning that a massive flood wave is expected to reach Head Marala within two days. Heavy monsoon rainfall, combined with the release of water from Indian dams, including Thein and Salal, has intensified the flood threat in Punjab.
Meanwhile, PoGB is facing its own humanitarian catastrophe. Villages have been cut off entirely after floodwaters destroyed homes, roads, and a vital bridge linking several remote communities. Families have been forced to live under open skies, with food, water, and medical supplies scarce. Victims complain that no structured relief has reached them and no financial assistance has been announced, despite repeated appeals. One flood victim lamented that even basic shelter was unavailable, saying: “Our houses have been destroyed, but we have not even found a house to live in.”
The collapse of the bridge has been especially devastating for children. Around 700 students who relied on it to attend school can no longer reach their classrooms, leaving parents fearful of long-term disruption to education in an already marginalised region. Beyond physical destruction, the psychological toll has been immense. Many say they feel abandoned, with only small-scale local initiatives keeping them afloat. Analysts warn that the lack of a structured government response risks fuelling resentment in a region where people already feel excluded from mainstream governance.
The scale of devastation is so vast that political leaders are being forced to address it even as the country battles internal crises. On Monday, the parliamentary committee of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) urged former prime minister Imran Khan to appeal to overseas Pakistanis for donations. The committee expressed concern that the international community had shown little interest in aiding Pakistan despite the severity of the disaster. PTI leaders proposed that funds should be raised through the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and Imran Khan’s charity networks to help flood victims.
Asad Qaiser, a senior PTI leader, told reporters that overseas Pakistanis would be asked to donate directly to either the KP government or PTI-linked organisations. He warned that with crops already devastated, Pakistan could face enormous pressure on its currency next year as the government may be forced to import wheat and rice.
At the same time, PTI reiterated its decision to boycott the by-elections and resign from parliamentary committees, insisting that the country “lacked democracy,” which was fuelling governance and security failures. In a symbolic protest, PTI lawmakers plan to attend National Assembly and Senate sessions briefly before walking out.
In Islamabad, PTI’s planned media interaction with KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur had to be cancelled after a sudden downpour dislodged canopies at the venue. The disruption served as a reminder of the unpredictable weather patterns battering the country and the urgent need for stronger disaster preparedness.
As Pakistan grapples with floodwaters swallowing its heartland, the simultaneous humanitarian, economic, and political challenges paint a grim picture. The widespread devastation, inadequate relief, and political discord raise pressing questions about the state’s ability to manage crises of such magnitude. For the displaced families left stranded by the Sutlej, Chenab, and PoGB floods, urgent intervention remains their only hope of survival.
