Lahore, August 31, 2025 – Pakistan is facing its most devastating flood in history, with heavy rains submerging vast parts of Punjab province. According to reports from the Associated Press, three major rivers – Satyuga, Chenab, and Ravi – are in spate simultaneously, flooding thousands of villages and displacing millions.
Rising human toll
The relentless downpour has triggered flash floods and landslides in northern and north-western mountain regions. According to ANI, 33 people have died so far in Punjab alone, while 2,200 villages stand inundated. More than 7 lakh residents have been forced to flee their homes, creating a massive humanitarian crisis.
Punjab Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb confirmed in a press briefing, “This is the biggest flood in Pakistan’s history. Nearly 20 lakh people have been affected. Never before have our three rivers swelled with such volume.”
Climate crisis worsening monsoon impact
Experts believe climate change and global warming have intensified Pakistan’s monsoon system this year, worsening rainfall patterns and making the country more vulnerable to sudden floods and disasters.
The National Meteorological Center reported that Punjab has already received 26.5% more rainfall than last year between July 1 and August 27.
National devastation since June
According to Pakistan’s Disaster Management Authority, since June 26, 849 people have lost their lives and 1,130 others have been injured in rain-related incidents nationwide.
Agricultural heartland under threat
Punjab, home to more than 150 million people and known as Pakistan’s agricultural backbone, is among the worst-hit. The province is the country’s largest wheat producer, and the floods have sparked fears of a repeat of 2022, when crops were destroyed on a massive scale. Then-Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif had warned of looming food shortages—a warning that looms large again today.
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