- Finance Minister says domestic resources to be prioritised before seeking external aid
- Says flood losses in agriculture, infrastructure to be assessed within 12–15 days
- Says IMF mission to evaluate disaster’s economic impact during upcoming review
KAMALIA: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Sunday said Pakistan remains in close contact with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has shown understanding of the crisis triggered by the recent devastating floods.
During a visit to Kamalia tehsil in Toba Tek Singh—one of the worst-hit districts—the minister emphasized that the government is prioritizing the use of domestic resources before seeking additional external support. “The whole world is watching the difficulties being faced by the Pakistani people,” he remarked.
Aurangzeb said the government had learned several lessons from the disaster, cautioning against what he termed “self-inflicted” damage. “We must keep a check on the kind of areas we are populating and the places where we are building societies, or consider zoning laws. It is about time that we think through this self-inflicted pain,” he noted.
The minister confirmed that a full assessment of agricultural damages is still underway. Local, provincial, and federal governments—along with the State Bank of Pakistan—are working together to determine the next steps. Referring to the 2022 floods, he said, “We already have a formula. What we need to do now is to assess the damages in the next 12–15 days as the water starts to recede.”
Aurangzeb said roads, bridges, and houses had been badly damaged and acknowledged that it would be inappropriate to issue electricity bills in disaster-hit zones at this stage. Expressing relief that loss of life in Toba Tek Singh remained minimal, he prayed for the floodwaters to recede soon so farmers could begin sowing the next crop. “We will rebuild the infrastructure and restore it to its original condition,” he assured.
He lauded the scale of the ongoing relief operations, describing them as unprecedented in the country’s history, and extended special thanks to the Pakistan Army for their role in rescue and relief efforts.
Meanwhile, the IMF on Friday expressed sorrow over the loss of lives in Pakistan’s floods and confirmed that its upcoming second economic review mission would also evaluate the disaster’s impact on the economy and the financial requirements for recovery and reconstruction.
According to official sources, the IMF team will assess whether Pakistan’s fiscal policies and emergency measures are adequate to meet the challenges posed by the calamity.
