Pakistan Seeks Global Help to Assess Flood Losses

Pakistan has officially appealed for international support to assess the full extent of damage caused by recent floods, which have claimed more than 1,000 lives and caused widespread devastation nationwide. The Government of Pakistan has formally reached out to global partners, including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), European Union, and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), for technical support. The request came from the Economic Affairs Division, which wrote letters seeking international expertise to ensure a credible and reliable estimate of human and economic losses. World Bank officials later confirmed the request that a letter of assistance had been received, and the Bank was committed to helping estimate the scale of losses. Initial estimates from the Ministry of Planning suggest damages already exceed Rs700 billion, though authorities stressed the importance of independent verification before moving forward with long-term recovery and reconstruction plans. The floods have left a heavy human toll, with more than 1,100 people injured alongside the 1,000+ deaths. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported over 500 fatalities, while Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir also witnessed severe destruction of homes, agricultural land, and infrastructure. Nationwide, more than 12,500 houses and 240 bridges have been damaged. Roads, schools, and hospitals were also destroyed, cutting off access to vital services in many areas. Agriculture and rural livelihoods remain among the worst hit, raising fresh concerns about food security. In Punjab, the largest flood survey in the province’s history is underway. The PDMA said 1,857 survey teams are working across 27 flood-affected districts. So far, data for 81,510 victims has been recorded, including losses for 56,207 farmers, 53,985 acres of damaged land, and 24,246 houses. The survey also confirmed nearly 3,945 livestock deaths. PDMA DG Irfan Ali assured that the survey is being closely monitored to ensure transparency, with daily reviews and participation from multiple departments and the Pakistan Army. He said teams are reaching remote areas by boats and even wading through floodwaters to collect accurate data.