The federal government has moved to relieve electricity bills in flood hit districts and has asked the IMF to endorse the plan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the Finance Ministry to seek consent so consumers in affected areas can defer dues.
Officials said a virtual meeting was held with the Fund on Friday. The IMF requested more data, which the Power Division will share this week.
IMF consulted as cabinet weighs targeted relief options
Power Minister Sardar Awais Laghari said the immediate concern is the August billing cycle now due. Authorities are compiling consumer data from the worst hit belts under LESCO, GEPCO, FESCO, and MEPCO. SEPCO customers may also qualify as flows move south.
One path is support through the Benazir Income Support Programme. Another is a dedicated fiscal package for flood relief.
Laghari said the prime minister is inclined to ease the burden quickly and a formal announcement will follow.
Flood damage data guides fiscal asks and farm support
Severe flooding in the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej has displaced millions and swamped about 1.3 million acres of crops. Hard hit districts include Gujrat, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Narowal, Muzaffargarh, Multan, and Bahawalpur.
Nearly 6,500 animals have perished. The centre has declared an agriculture emergency. Provinces will survey losses by mid-September.
Preliminary data shows rice fields suffer most, with Gujranwala division losses up to 18 percent. Islamabad is preparing a farmers’ support package and may seek flexibility on primary surplus and provincial cash targets when the IMF mission arrives later this month.
Prices strain households though weekly inflation eases slightly
Floods have tightened supplies of perishables. The weekly bulletin shows tomatoes up 91 percent year on year. Sugar is higher by 29.3 percent. Wheat flour by 18.7 percent. Pulses by 15 percent and beef by 12 percent.
On a weekly basis, the SPI eased as wheat flour prices fell 10 percent after Punjab took corrective steps. NDMA briefed federal secretaries at NEOC on response measures and logistics.
The government says relief will reach both rural and urban families as waters recede and rebuilding begins.
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