ISLAMABAD: Early estimates put the damage from Pakistan’s fatal floods at greater than US$10 billion, the planning minister stated on Monday (Aug 29), adding that this world has an obligation to help the Southern Asian nation cope with the effects of man-made environment change.
Unprecedented flash surges caused by historic monsoon rains have cleaned away roads, plants, infrastructure and bridges, killing at least one, 000 people in recent weeks and affecting more than 33 million.
“I think it is going to be huge. So far, (a) very early, primary estimate is that it will be big, it is higher than US$10 billion, inch Ahsan Iqbal told Reuters in an job interview.
“So much we have lost one, 000 human lifestyles. There is damage to nearly one mil houses, ” Iqbal said at their office.
“People have actually dropped their complete livelihood. ”
The minister said it could take five years to rebuild and rehabilitate the nation of 200 million people, while in the near term it will probably be confronted with acute foods shortages.
In order to mitigate the shortage, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail said the nation could consider adding vegetables from arch-rival India.
The 2 neighbouring countries have not had any business for a long time.
“We can consider importing vegetables from Indian, ” Ismail informed local Geo News TV, adding other sources for food imports included Turkey and Iran.
Food prices have already shot up due to flooded vegetation and impassable roads.
India Best Minister Narendra Modi said he was saddened to the damage caused by the floods.
“We expand our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the wounded and all those impacted by this natural calamity and hope for an earlier restoration of normalcy, ” he said in a tweet.