Tempting fate — the aftermath of floods

Beyond the thousands directly affected by the devastating floods, countless struggling Pakistanis, still waiting for promised relief from improved macroeconomic indicators, now fear the wider impact of the crisis on their already difficult lives. If flooding persists and recovery and reconstruction efforts remain slow, the fallout on food security, livelihoods, and household resilience could intensify, placing even greater strain on already vulnerable families across the country. Pakistan is still reeling from the catastrophic 2022 floods, which inflicted tens of billions of dollars in damage, widespread displacement, and massive economic losses. The disaster was a major contributor to the country’s deepening economic crisis — marked by record-high inflation, surging poverty and inequality, and a negative growth trajectory.