Islamabad :
The federal government has estimated at least $10 billion in damage to the country from weeks of torrential rains and subsequent flooding.
Sindh in particular has lost more than 1.60 billion dollars (Rs. 355 billion) as all major crops have been destroyed.
According to reports, while talking to the media, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail shared the damage estimate and said that the economic impact of the flood will be at least 10 billion dollars, which is about 3 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).
Meanwhile, Manzoor Wasan, adviser to the chief minister on agriculture, told the media that cotton, rice and date crops have been destroyed due to heavy rains, which caused a loss of Rs.
He further said that apart from this, chillies and other crops have also been destroyed by the rain.
Manzoor Wasan said that about 14 lakh acres of cotton crops, 6 lakh 2 thousand 120 acres of rice and 1 lakh 1 thousand 379 acres of palm plantations have been destroyed.
He said that about 50% of the sugarcane crop on 729,582 acres has also been damaged.
Giving details of other crops affected by heavy rains in the province, he said that about 50% of other crops of sesame, tomato, chilli, kharif vegetables and onion have also been destroyed.
In response to a question, he said that in the next two months, there will be a lot of difficulties in sowing wheat.
The provincial adviser on agriculture added that ‘flood water is not expected to be completely removed from farmers’ fields in two months.’
He said that there has been unusual rains in Sindh, but the provincial government is trying its best to provide relief to the people affected by the rains and floods.
Manzoor Wasan said that they have distributed more than 4,000 tents, tarpaulins, ration bags and cash among the affected people.
He said that the farmers have suffered huge losses and they will be given relief to bear these losses.
He said that revenue charges (abiana) will be waived off by the revenue department for the kharif season of 2022.
Manzoor Wasan said that date palm growers had lost their entire crop and “it has been suggested that the case compensation be given to them at 50 percent of the value of their crop.”
He said that the compensation package for remaining crops destroyed during stormy rains can be announced on the basis of 50 percent input cost which includes seeds, fertilizers and pesticides.
In response to a question, he said that agricultural loans provided to farmers in rain-affected areas during Kharif 2022 can be rescheduled and interest on loans can be waived.
He added that new interest-free loans can be provided on easy terms for rain-affected areas.
Manzoor Wasan said that efforts are being made to save the crops by draining water from the fields, assuring that ‘we are with the people and cannot leave them alone in this difficult time’.
