PAKISTAN, located in the Indus Basin, relies significantly on river systems for its agricultural economy, yet these rivers regularly turn from lifelines to agents of destruction.

Extreme monsoon rains and increased glacial melting have resulted in severe floods, notably in the Ravi, Sutlej and Chenab rivers. These floods not only destroy infrastructure and property, but they also undermine Pakistan’s economic and social stability by devastating farmland, causing food shortages, displacing millions and triggering a long-term cycle of vulnerability. The severity of the situation demonstrates that floods are more than just environmental concerns; they also threaten human security, which is now codified in Pakistan’s National Security Policy. Pakistan’s National Security Policy (NSP), which was publicly launched in 2022, expressly recognizes human security as a vital component of national security. The declaration acknowledges that risks to food, health, the environment and economic stability are just as serious as conventional military concerns.

One of the costliest natural calamities for Pakistan’s economy is flooding. Although the agriculture industry is the first to suffer, the financial losses extend far beyond it. Sectors that depend on crops and livestock,........

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