Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has confirmed that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has shown understanding toward Pakistan’s devastating flood crisis, which has displaced communities and severely damaged infrastructure across multiple regions. Speaking during a visit to Kamalia tehsil in Toba Tek Singh, one of the hardest-hit districts, the minister highlighted the government’s ongoing engagement with the IMF and assured citizens that recovery efforts are being prioritized with domestic resources before seeking additional external assistance.
Aurangzeb underscored the scale of destruction caused by the floods, pointing to collapsed bridges, damaged roads, and thousands of homes washed away by the rising waters. He said the government recognizes that residents in affected areas are unable to bear additional financial burdens and therefore, sending electricity bills in these zones would be inappropriate at this stage. His comments reflected a compassionate approach, acknowledging the need to ease hardships on disaster-stricken families while immediate relief measures continue.
The minister also noted with relief that despite widespread infrastructure damage, the loss of life in Toba Tek Singh remained relatively limited. He prayed for the floodwaters to recede swiftly to allow farmers to begin sowing their next crops, a critical step for restoring agricultural livelihoods and stabilizing food supplies. Aurangzeb pledged that the government will rebuild destroyed infrastructure and restore the region to its original condition, promising long-term recovery efforts beyond immediate relief.
Expressing gratitude for the massive national response, he described the ongoing rescue and relief operations as unprecedented in Pakistan’s history. He specifically thanked the Pakistan Army for its active involvement in evacuation, relief distribution, and on-ground support to the affected population.
At the international level, the IMF issued a statement on Friday expressing its condolences over the loss of life and damage caused by the disaster. The global lender also announced that its upcoming second economic review mission will evaluate the economic impact of the floods in detail. According to officials, the IMF delegation will assess both the fiscal strain and the financial requirements for recovery and reconstruction.
Sources suggest that the IMF’s evaluation will include an analysis of Pakistan’s current fiscal policies and the emergency measures already rolled out by the government. The assessment will help determine whether existing frameworks are sufficient to manage the crisis or if further external financial support will be required.
The floods have once again highlighted Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate-related disasters and the urgent need for resilient infrastructure and disaster preparedness mechanisms. While international support is expected, the government’s decision to focus first on mobilizing domestic resources reflects a determination to lead recovery efforts internally, while maintaining cooperation with multilateral partners like the IMF.
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