Lahore:  Pakistan is grappling with one of its worst flood disasters in recent years as relentless monsoon rains, cloudbursts, and water releases from Indian dams have submerged large parts of Punjab and Sindh, displacing millions and devastating farmlands.

In central Punjab’s Jalalpur Pirwala, more than 122,000 people were evacuated overnight after floodwaters engulfed entire communities. Authorities said that at least 2.2 million people have been displaced across Punjab, with more than 3,900 villages inundated in 26 districts. Many survivors are sheltering in temporary roadside camps, struggling under scorching heat and inadequate relief supplies.

The human toll continues to climb, with the nationwide death count surpassing 900 since the floods began in June. In Punjab alone, around 80,000 people are housed in relief camps, while thousands more remain stranded without sufficient access to food, clean water, or medical aid.

Evacuations have also extended to eastern Punjab, where over 25,000 residents were forced to leave their homes due to swelling rivers threatening fresh flooding. Authorities have been responding to flood alerts issued after India released excess water from upstream dams.

Further south, Sindh province has evacuated more than 100,000 residents along the Indus River as a precaution against worsening conditions. Officials in Sindh say they are determined to avoid a repeat of the 2022 disaster, when floods killed thousands and left lasting economic scars.

The flooding has dealt a severe blow to Pakistan’s agriculture sector. Experts warn of up to 20 percent crop losses in Punjab, the country’s main agricultural hub, particularly in basmati rice cultivation. The damage has already triggered a surge in global rice prices, with a \$50 per ton increase reported in export markets including Britain, the Middle East, and the United States.

The National Disaster Management Authority remains on high alert as rivers such as the Sutlej and Indus continue to rise, posing fresh threats to downstream communities. Officials fear that further rainfall or additional dam discharges could worsen the crisis.

So far, over half a million people have fled their homes in eastern Punjab alone, bringing the cumulative number of displaced persons nationwide to nearly 2.2 million. Relief agencies, military units, and volunteers are continuing large-scale rescue and aid operations, though conditions in camps remain dire.

With millions of lives disrupted, agricultural losses mounting, and food security under strain, Pakistan faces an immense challenge in both immediate relief and long-term recovery. Authorities and aid groups stress the need for urgent international assistance to prevent the humanitarian crisis from deepening further.