Monsoon floods have become a recurring national disaster in Pakistan. Almost every year, the country faces widespread destruction, though the scale and nature of the damage may vary. The statistics reveal a disturbing and consistent pattern. The 2010 floods caused the death of 1,985 people, affecting over 20 percent of the land area and displacing more than 20 million people. The 2012 flooding affected 4.85 million people and damaged 640,000 houses. The 2022 floods caused $14.9 billion in damages and 1,700 deaths. In 2025, the monsoon killed over 1,037 people, displaced approximately 2.9 million at the peak of the disaster, and caused extensive damage to crops, livestock, and infrastructure across the country.

The 2026 monsoon season has arrived without pause. Since June 26, 2026, torrential rains across Pakistan have killed 122 people, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recording the highest fatalities at 55, followed by Punjab with 46, Azad Jammu and Kashmir with 10, Balochistan with 8, and Gilgit-Baltistan with one casualty. The season has months yet to run. This emergency is unfolding while many communities are still recovering from the 2025 floods, with persistent food insecurity and housing shortages leaving millions with a reduced capacity to withstand another severe season. Authorities have themselves warned they cannot rule out a repeat of the catastrophic 2022 scenario.

There is a lot of hue and cry during these occurrences. Immediately after the monsoon passes, however, governments, responsible institutions, and even the people forget the losses entirely — until another occurrence the following year. The stereotype thinking among........

© Pakistan Observer