By Neelam Rahim

More than 1,300 people have so far died, with 81 out of 160 districts in the country directly affected by the floods, leaving at least 33 million people homeless, which are still expected to rise in the coming days.

But beyond the human losses, the country’s economic managers have the most challenging task ahead as floods ravaged the country’s road and communication network, damaged an incalculable number of houses, and destroyed millions of hectares of crops.

In a discussion with Radio Islam International, Deputy Secretary General Defence of Human Rights Pakistan, Kamran Minhas, said the current situation is terrible as one-third of Pakistan’s land is under water.

According to Kamran, foreign aid is coming in on delegations that flights land in Pakistan carrying goods.

He said the size and magnitude of the devastation are so huge that much more aid is needed.

Pakistan relies on its cotton plantations for textile use. Reports seem to suggest that most of the cotton harvest has been destroyed. Kamran said that in the coming months, it would be affected negatively as Pakistan’s main exports rely on cotton products.

Meanwhile, reports read that Imran Khan has done television collections running into the millions for relief and assistance for the victims of the floods.

According to Kamran, Imran Khan has done a program in which he claimed he had collected around 500 million rupees.

He said the pledges had been given via telephone.

“We do not know if that amount really came or not. Neither is it been visibly spent anywhere by Imran Khan’s party.”

Regarding the immediate requirements right now, Kamran said the most extensive damage caused by the floods had been done to the infrastructure of roads. Pakistan will need to recollect the areas which have no land access.

Listen to the interview on Radio Islam’s podcast below.