ISLAMABAD: A devastating wave of monsoon floods is sweeping through Pakistan, claiming over 700 lives and affecting more than 2 million people since late June.

The crisis, described as a historic and monumental challenge, has prompted a nationwide emergency as exceptionally high water levels in Punjab’s rivers now threaten to inundate southern regions.

In Punjab, over 481,000 people have been safely evacuated from floodplains, and some 2,300 villages and settlements have been inundated.

The Balloki Headworks on the Ravi River continues to face a critical flood level of over 204,000 cusecs, while Ganda Singh Wala on the Sutlej has peaked at more than 253,000 cusecs.

As the floodwater surges southward, Sindh authorities are in a state of heightened preparedness.

The government’s latest assessment reveals that up to 1.65 million people across 1,651 villages and settlements in the province’s low-lying Katcha areas are at high risk of displacement.

The crisis has crippled local commerce, with vital supplies of produce and fertiliser disrupted by the widespread flooding, adding to the nation’s economic challenges.