Situationer: As monsoon wreaks havoc, only fraction of cars insured
WITH the country currently in the grip of cataclysmic monsoon rains, every passing day brings with it more reports of deaths and destruction. Among the losses to life and property, images of damaged vehicles — either swept up by floodwaters or battered by falling debris — have become a common sight. Alongside lost homes, businesses and civic amenities, damage to vehicles constitutes a major chunk of the losses incurred by people. According to insurance experts, however, the uptake for motor vehicle coverage in the country stands at a paltry 2.5 per cent. Take, for example, the freak hailstorm that inflicted damages worth millions of rupees to vehicles across Islamabad earlier this year. According to data from around 12 insurance and takaful operators (out of a total of 28 providers), around 958 vehicle repair claims were received in the wake of the hailstorm from the federal capital and its adjoining areas in April 2025.