Flooding in Pakistan: Overview and Issues for
Congress

K. Alan Kronstadt, Coordinator
Specialist in South Asian Affairs
Pervaze A. Sheikh, Coordinator
Specialist in Natural Resources Policy
Bruce Vaughn, Coordinator
Specialist in Asian Affairs
September 21, 2010
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
R41424
CRS Report for Congress
P
repared for Members and Committees of Congress

Flooding in Pakistan: Overview and Issues for Congress

Summary
Pakistan is in the midst of a catastrophic natural disaster that has precipitated a humanitarian
crisis of major proportions. Widespread flooding has affected about 20 million Pakistanis and
inundated an area the size of Florida. Congressional interest in the flooding stems from the
significant humanitarian and economic implications for the country, and the security implications
for U.S. interests in the region. While it is too early to fully assess the extent of the damage and
the wide range of its ramifications, it is almost certain that the negative effects of the crisis will be
felt for many years to come.
The floods stem from abnormally heavy rains during the monsoon season in July and August,
which led to flooding in the Indus River Basin which runs from the north to the south of Pakistan.
Excess water led the Indus River and its tributaries to breach their levees and inundate adjacent
and downstream floodplains. Some 1,750 people are believed to have been killed. One fifth of the
country was submerged, and an estimated eight million Pakistanis were displaced from their
homes. The numbers affected are significantly greater than several recent disasters around the
world combined. Little clean drinking water is available for many of the people who have been
affected. Many of those, particularly children, are now in danger of disease outbreak, particularly
diarrhea caused by ingesting stagnant water, and malaria. The catastrophic loss of livestock and
crop lands and extensive damage to the country’s infrastructure are projected to have devastating
long-term effects on Pakistan’s food security and economic performance.
Pakistan is at the center of several crucial U.S. interests, including fighting terrorism and religious
militancy, seeking stability in neighboring Afghanistan, promoting nuclear non-proliferation,
among others. The floods have the potential to affect broad political and strategic dynamics in
Pakistan and the region in a number of ways. The crisis may undermine the already waning
legitimacy of the civilian government by demonstrating its ineffectiveness to large numbers of
Pakistanis in need of public services, while improving the status of Pakistan’s powerful military
by the more visible role it has played in providing disaster relief. It may also provide militants an
opportunity to garner favor with affected communities by giving them an opportunity to
demonstrate that they can provide assistance in areas where the government is absent. The crisis
will also likely divert attention and resources from other priorities, at a time when Pakistan
remains financially strapped.
U.S. interests are served by a stable Pakistan that can effectively rule all its territory. Any crisis on
a scale of the present floods that undermines the Pakistani state’s ability to control its territory has
the potential to undermine U.S. interests. The inability of Pakistan to fully extend its authority
into areas along its northwest frontier with Afghanistan has allowed Islamist militants hostile to
the United States to find refuge. The current floods have already diverted Pakistani resources and
focus away from its struggle with Islamist militants. This has the potential to indirectly affect
U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan by taking pressure off militants on the Pakistani side of
the international frontier. On a more positive note, the crisis presents the United States with an
opportunity to improve its poor image among Pakistanis through provision of humanitarian
assistance. Congress will play an important role in overseeing such assistance in the near term,
and broad foreign assistance strategies for rebuilding infrastructure and other development goals
in the medium and long run. For more information on environmental issues and Pakistan, see
CRS Report R41358, Security and the Environment in Pakistan. For broader discussion of U.S.-
Pakistan relations, see CRS Report R41307, Pakistan: Key Current Issues and Developments.
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Flooding in Pakistan: Overview and Issues for Congress

Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1
Congressional Interest ........................................................................................................... 2
Potential Actions for Congress ........................................................................................ 2
U.S. Funding to Date............................................................................................................. 3
Private Donations............................................................................................................ 5
What Other Countries Are Doing .................................................................................... 5
Lessons Learned from Haiti ............................................................................................ 6
Context of the 2010 Pakistan Flood ............................................................................................. 7
Context of Pakistan’s Flood Risk........................................................................................... 8
Climate Change and Flooding ............................................................................................... 9
Effects on Infrastructure, Energy Disruption, and Rebuilding .................................................... 10
Effects on Agriculture and Food Security .................................................................................. 11
Crops .................................................................................................................................. 12
Livestock ............................................................................................................................ 13
Food Security...................................................................................................................... 13
Effects on Health ...................................................................................................................... 13
Economic Effects of the Floods ................................................................................................. 15
Humanitarian Implications of the Flood .................................................................................... 17
Political-Security Implications of the Flood............................................................................... 18
Pakistan-U.S. Relations, Militant Groups, and Public Sentiment .......................................... 19
Potential to Improve U.S. Standing in Pakistan.............................................................. 19
Islamist Extremists Groups and Disaster Relief ............................................................. 20
Domestic Political Effects ................................................................................................... 20
Status of the Civilian Government ................................................................................. 21
Internal Administrative Issues ....................................................................................... 21
Role and Standing of the Pakistani Military................................................................... 22
Counterinsurgency Operations ............................................................................................ 22
Observations ............................................................................................................................. 24

Figures
Figure 1. 2010 Extent of Flooding in Pakistan ............................................................................. 8

Tables
Table 1. FY2010 Humanitarian Aid for Pakistan Floods .............................................................. 3
Table 2. FY2010 U.S. Humanitarian Aid to Pakistan ................................................................... 4
Table 3. Provinces in Pakistan Affected by Flooding ................................................................. 18

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Flooding in Pakistan: Overview and Issues for Congress

Contacts
Author Contact Information ...................................................................................................... 25
Key Policy Staff........................................................................................................................ 25

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Flooding in Pakistan: Overview and Issues for Congress

Introduction
Widespread flooding in Pakistan has affected millions of people and caused a significant
humanitarian disaster with widespread economic and security consequences for the country. A
stable, democratic, prosperous Pakistan actively combating religious militancy is considered vital
to U.S. interests. The humanitarian effects of the flooding along with its regional security
consequences have generated considerable concern in the United States and many countries
around the world. The flooding in Pakistan, which started in late July and still persists today, has
directly affected over 20 million people. Over 1.8 million households have been destroyed or
damaged.1 Approximately 1,752 people have died and over 2,700 are reported injured.2
In terms of displaced persons, the humanitarian impact of the Pakistan flooding is estimated to be
larger than other recent natural disasters experienced globally. The estimated 20 million people
affected by flooding in Pakistan is more than the estimated number of people affected by the
earthquake in Haiti, the 2005 tsunami in the Indian Ocean littoral region, and the 2005 South Asia
earthquake combined.3 The death toll is anticipated to rise significantly once floodwaters recede;
of particular concern are the roughly 800,000 people estimated to be unreachable except by air.
Lost shelter and food staples, limited access to clean water, and dangerous sanitary conditions
from standing water and submerged lands and dead livestock are some of the more immediate
issues. Concerns about malnutrition, gastroenteritis, diarrhea, skin infections, cholera, typhoid,
malaria, and hepatitis have been reported. The Pakistan government has established a National
Oversight Disaster Management Council to improve the transparency in the distribution of flood
relief. However, humanitarian relief efforts have been tempered by initially low levels of
donations and security concerns in some regions.4
Some medium and long-term consequences of flooding have been projected. Lost livelihoods for
farmers (e.g., not being able to plant next season’s crop) and a diminished food supply are a
concern for many. The flooding destroyed crops, food stockpiles, livestock, seeds, structures, and
equipment. Food prices have dramatically increased since the flooding, putting an economic
strain on the entire population. Rebuilding damaged and destroyed housing is also expected to
affect the return of displaced populations. As tensions mount and the struggle to stabilize persists,
public confidence in government efforts to provide assistance might be further tested. Long term
consequences such as damaged infrastructure (e.g., bridges, roads, electrical plants, and schools)
are also expected to hamper recovery efforts and have a lasting effect on the country.
Before the flooding, top-tier U.S. concerns regarding Pakistan included regional and global
terrorism; stability in neighboring Afghanistan; domestic political stability and democratization;
nuclear weapons proliferation and security; human rights protection; and economic development.
Flooding has exacerbated these concerns. The effects of the flood on the stability of the Pakistani
government and its ability to suppress and contain militants within their borders is an issue of

1 United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Pakistan—Monsoon Floods, Situation Report
#23, September 9, 2010. Hereafter referred to as OCHA Situation Sept. 9 Report.
2 OCHA Situation Sept. 9 Report.
3 The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Pakistan Floods Affect Millions from North
to South Aug. 9, 2010.
4 “In Pakistan, Taliban Hint at Attacks on Relief Workers,” The New York Times, August 26, 2010.
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concern for the United States and others. For additional information on broader dynamics related
to security and the environment in Pakistan see CRS Report R41358, Security and the
Environment in Pakistan.

Congressional Interest
Congressional interest regarding the floods in Pakistan stems from multiple factors including: the
U.S. response to the humanitarian needs of flood victims, cost of reconstruction after the flood
subsides, the ongoing aid given by the United States to the Pakistani government to garner its
support for U.S. operations in Afghanistan, disabling the Taliban inside Pakistan’s borders, and
security concerns arising from a weakened Pakistan with a potentially disenfranchised and
dissatisfied population.
Recent Pew public opinion surveys in Pakistan before the floods present two issues of concern:
(1) that the percentage of Pakistanis polled who are worried about extremist groups taking control
of Pakistan has declined from 69% in 2009 to 51% in 2010; and (2) that about 68% polled view
the United States unfavorably. These numbers are expected to change after the floods as
perception of a weak government grows and pressure to contain militants softens (see later
sections of the report for more details). The United States, however, has an opportunity to
improve its perception among Pakistanis. While humanitarian benefits are the priority, emergency
aid and reconstruction efforts, if successfully implemented, may provide long-term diplomatic
benefits for the United States in Pakistan. On August 11, 2010, the United Nations requested an
initial $460 million for Pakistan flood victims; as of mid-September, about 80% has been funded.
The U.N. called for another $2.0 billion for relief as of September 21st. The United States is the
largest donor. (See Table 1.)
Potential Actions for Congress
One current issue for Congress and the Obama Administration is deciding what additional actions
and funds are available, warranted, and effective. Many have suggested potential actions to
address flooding in Pakistan. Some of those actions include:
• Additional U.S. emergency relief funding, equipment, and supplies,
• U.S. efforts to promote contributions and cooperation from other nations for
emergency response and reconstruction,
• Actions intended to support the Pakistan economy and trade,5
• Debt relief,
• Efforts to promote individual and corporate aid and contributions, and
• Measures to promote foreign-direct investment and public-private partnerships.

5 For example, H.R. 1318 and S. 496 which would provide duty free treatment for certain goods, particularly textiles
and some clothing, from designated reconstruction opportunity zones in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Textiles represent
roughly half of Pakistan’s exports.
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U.S. Funding to Date
The United States is leading international efforts in responding to the Pakistan flooding and
emergency relief efforts. Some funds are being converted from a portion of the civilian economic
development assistance authorized by the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009 (P.L.
111-73), which is appropriated primarily within the FY2010 base and supplemental
appropriations (P.L. 111-117 and P.L. 111-212 respectively). To date, the United States is
providing a total of $294.6 million for Pakistan relief, largely coming from International Disaster
Assistance (IDA) and Food For Peace (FFP) funds. Of this total, State Department officials state
that more than $196.8 million is going toward the $460.0 million originally requested by the
United Nations. Secretary of State Clinton announced another $50.0 million is available for early
recovery assistance to Pakistan. This amounts to a total of $344.6 million for the floods in
Pakistan. (See Table 1 below.) In-kind assistance, including military support, such as the value of
the helicopters, amounts to another $55.0 million according to USAID Administrator Shah.6
Table 1. FY2010 Humanitarian Aid for Pakistan Floods
(in millions of U.S. dollars)

FY2010 flood aid
USAID Office of Foreign Disaster
$104.9
Assistance (OFDA)
(All IDA)
USDA/Food for Peace (FFP)
$128.4
(IDA and title II)
USAID Pakistan Assistance
$12.0
(all ESF funds, $10 million from FY2010 base,
$2 million from OTI after transferred from
ESF)
USAID Pakistan Early Recovery Assistance
$50.0
(al ESF funds from FY2010 supp)
State Dept. Bureau of Population,
$49.3
Refugees & Migration (PRM)
(from ERMA & MRA FY2010 base)
DoD Not
available
Total $344.6

Source: Communications with the F Bureau, Department of State, and USAID, September 21, 2010.
Prior to the flooding emergency, the United States provided humanitarian aid to Pakistan to
address the January 2010 landslides, conflict-affected displaced people (referred to as complex
emergency funds), and pre-2010 earthquake expenses. (See Table 2.) A potential issue for
Congress is whether the purpose of these funds should be changed to reflect flood relief efforts or
changed circumstances caused by the flood. If the funds are redirected, then there could be
concerns as to how the original objectives of the funding will be met.

6 Remarks on Pakistan Flood Relief Efforts, Richard Holbrooke, Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan,
and Rajiv Shah, USAID Administrator, September 20, 2010. http://www.state.gov/s/special_rep_afghanistan_pakistan/
2010/147430.htm
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Table 2. FY2010 U.S. Humanitarian Aid to Pakistan
FY2009
FY2009
FY2010
FY2010
Source
Base
Spring Supp
Base
Supp
Total
Appropriation Laws
P.L. 111-8
P.L. 111-32
P.L. 111-117
P.L. 111-212

Int’l Disaster Asst. (IDA)





Complex Emergency
$256,014
$16,569,222
$220,295
$1,500,000
$18,545,231
Earthquake

$193,450


$193,450
Landslide
$50,000



$50,000
Floods

$627,395
$12,094
$104,268,629
$104,908,118
Total IDA
$306,014
$17,390,067
$232,389
$105,768,629
$123,697,099
Food For Peace





Complex Emergency

$20,000,000
$20,000,000
transferred from IDA
Complex Emergency – Title II
$55,386,700

$70,820,800

$126,207,500
Floods – transferred from IDA


$108,188,566

$108,188,566
Floods – Title II


$20,202,600

$20,202,600
Floods
Total

$128,391,166
$128,391,166
Total Food For Peace
$55,386,700

$219,211,732

$274,598,432
Economic Support Fund





(ESF)
USAID Pakistan Flood Aid


$12,000,000a
$12,000,000
USAID Pakistan Flood early

$50,000,000
$50,000,000
recovery aid
Total ESF – Flood Aid


$12,000,000a $50,000,000 $62,000,000
State Dept – Population,





Refugees & Migration
Complex
Emergency
(ERMA)
$13,300,000
$13,300,000
Complex Emergency (MRA)
$1,300,000
$45,000,000b $32,000,000
$78,300,000
Floods (ERMA)


$33,021,000c
$33,021,000
Floods (MRA)


$16,229,000d
$16,229,000
Floods
PRM
Total

$49,250,000
$49,250,000
a. Of this, $2.0 million was transferred to Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) for flood assistance.
b. Of this, $10.0 million was appropriated within the Bridge Supplemental for FY2009 (P.L. 110-252).
c. Includes $21,000 recovery funding from prior ERMA appropriations.
d. Includes $819,000 recovery of prior year MRA funding.
Source: USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, Office of Food For Peace; Department of State’s Bureau
of Population, Refugees, and Migration,, and the Foreign Assistance (F) Bureau.
Notes: IDA=International Disaster Assistance; ERMA=U.S. Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance;
MRA=Migration and Refugee Assistance.
USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah is leading all U.S. government humanitarian response efforts to
Pakistan. Nearly 30 U.S. military helicopters and four C-130 planes have been involved in
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delivering nearly 4 million pounds of humanitarian supplies. In addition to emergency food
supplies, U.S. relief efforts have included plastic sheeting, inflatable rescue boats, concrete-
cutting saw kits and replacement blades, shelter, blankets, water storage bladders, and water
filtration units among other things. Twenty-six U.S. mobile medical teams are providing health
care services, of particular need because about 450 health facilities were destroyed or damaged by
the floods, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(OCHA).
Early recovery activities are beginning in some provinces, even though rescue and relief
operations are still underway in others, according to USAID. Early recovery activities include
cash grants, cash-for-work programs, delivery of fuel-efficient stoves, and vouchers for seeds and
farm tools.
Private Donations
On August 18th, Secretary Clinton announced that the Department of State had created a Pakistan
Relief Fund for individuals, corporations, and others to contribute toward relief and recovery
efforts in Pakistan. Donations can be made through either the Department of State or USAID
websites. As of early September, private sector donations amounted to $8.39 million, according to
USAID. Individuals, corporations, and other organizations can send donations to the people of
Pakistan by contributing to this fund at http://www.state.gov or http://www.usaid.gov/
pakistanflooding/. In the United States, individuals also can send funds through mobile phones by
texting “FLOOD” to 27722.
What Other Countries Are Doing
Other countries are also providing support, but at levels considerably lower than in the days
following the 2010 Haitian earthquake. China claims it was the first to contribute aid to the flood
victims and has provided about $47.0 million.7 The European Union has provided a total of about
$305.0 million of cash and in-kind aid, including about $89.0 million from the European
Commission Humanitarian Aid Department and sums from more than 20 countries. For example,
Germany about $36.3 million cash and in-kind, Denmark about $22.0 million, Sweden about
$21.3 million, Norway about $66.0 million, the United Kingdom about $209.0 million, and
France about $2.7 million.8 As of September 8, Japan has provided a total of $25.6 million in cash
and relief commodities.9 As of the end of August, Australia has provided $75 million and Canada
has pledged about $32 million U.S. dollars with an additional $1.4 million from a Canadian
humanitarian coalition.10 India also has provided $5 million of aid and is offering more, although
receiving aid from India is controversial in Pakistan.

7 Xinhua General News Service, September 9, 2010.
8 European Commission Humanitarian Aid, Fact Sheet Pakistan Monsoon Floods, p. 7, September 10, 2010,
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/files/aid/countries/pakistan-factsheet-monsoon-floods.pdf.
9 Embassy of Japan in Pakistan, Press Release No: JPNEMPAK 10-038, September 8, 2010, http://www.pk.emb-
japan.go.jp/InfoJapan/Press%202010/September/JPNEMPAK%20010-38html.
10 Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Press Release 277, August 31, 2010, http://www.international.gc.ca/media/
aff/news-communiques/2010/277.aspx.
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Lessons Learned from Haiti
Despite the unprecedented scale of the flood disaster in Pakistan and more than 20 million people
affected, aid donations from around the world have been much slower to materialize than other
natural disasters such as the earthquake in Haiti. There are many potential reasons for this
difference, including:
• The Haiti earthquake was an emergency situation that happened overnight and
with immediate and visible tragedy, while the flood in Pakistan occurred more
slowly, over a longer period of time with less apparent urgency to get aid there.
• There has been less U.S. media coverage of Pakistan as compared with the
around-the-clock coverage in Haiti.
• The death toll in Pakistan has been relatively lower, about 1,750 deaths, as
compared with that of Haiti, estimated to be between 250,000 and 300,000.
• Pakistan’s image problem—government corruption and links with terrorism, as
well as concerns for potential nuclear proliferation to terrorists—causes people to
have concerns of their money getting into the wrong hands.
• Pakistan is farther away from western nations; while Haiti is a neighbor of the
United States.
• The floods occurred in summer when many in western nations are on vacation.
• The worldwide recession is limiting donations.
• The Haitian government was weaker and less in control after the earthquake.
Foreign governments could take charge more easily there than in Pakistan where
the government of Pakistan has a stronger presence and wishes to control relief
efforts to the best of its ability.
International assistance after a catastrophe rarely, if ever, meets the need. However, with
experience from several recent emergency events, including the earthquake in Haiti, Hurricane
Katrina, and the 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean, many lessons can be learned to improve the
effectiveness of the aid that is provided. Saving more lives, minimizing the recovery costs, and
garnering good will can be accomplished by improving response time and methods of delivery.
Some have turned to experiences learned in Haiti to address the flood response in Pakistan.11
Some lessons learned include:
• Involving local citizens in the relief effort,
• Listening to the local people about aid needs, and making sure the assistance is
appropriate,
• Providing cash for relief and buying locally whenever possible,
• Creating transitional shelter that can be turned into permanent dwellings, rather
than focusing on emergency shelter and neglecting permanent shelter,

11 30 Earthquakes, 28 Lessons Learned, OneWorld.net, January 21, 2010, http://us.oneworld.net/article/368623-30-
earthquakes-28-lessons-learned and The Haiti castrophe: lessons learned from previous operations, by Ben
Ramalingam, Overseas Development Institute (ODI) Blog January 19, 2010, http://blogs.odi.org.uk/blogs/main/
archive/2010/01/19/lessons_for_haiti_aid_response.aspx.
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• Starting recovery as soon as possible without negatively affecting the relief
effort, and
• Preparing for land-ownership disputes and not expecting the disaster response to
resolve underlying political problems such as corruption, poor governance,
underdevelopment, and social inequality.
Context of the 2010 Pakistan Flood
Heavy rains associated with monsoons began around July 22, 2010, and led to flash floods in the
northwest and east of Pakistan. (See Figure 1.) Downpours continued for the rest of the month
and persisted into August. The runoff caused the Indus River and its tributaries to breach levees
and overflow into floodplains housing both rural and urban populations. At times river flows
reached 40 times their normal levels. As floodwaters moved downstream, new areas of flooding
emerged in southern provinces, such as Sindh. Intentional levee breaks were made in attempts to
protect urban centers (e.g. Hyderabad); nonetheless, levee breaches affecting populations clusters
(e.g., Thatta city) were still occurring in early September.
Through early September, the Pakistan Meteorological Department was warning of potential new
areas of flooding in low lying areas in the southern portion of the country. At the same time, some
of the affected populations in other portions of the basin were returning to their damaged
communities as floodwaters receded. Some of these areas were underwater for weeks, resulting in
significant agricultural and property losses; concerns about food, shelter, safe water, sanitation,
health, and livelihood are likely to persist.
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Figure 1. 2010 Extent of Flooding in Pakistan
September 7, 2010

Source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Notes: The designations employed and the presentation of material on this map do not imply the expression of
any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any
country, territory, city, or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
Dotted line represents approximately the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir agreed upon by India and
Pakistan. The final status of Jammu and Kashmir has not yet been agreed upon by the parties.
Context of Pakistan’s Flood Risk
Pakistan has experienced severe and dangerous flooding in the recent past. 12 One source indicates
that serious flooding has affected what is now Pakistan at least 12 times since 1928.13 This is the
fifth flood in Pakistan affecting nearly 5 million or more people in less than 40 years.14

12 The topography, proximity to oceans, and other factors all create significant variability in precipitation across the
Pakistani territory during the wet monsoon season. That is, parts of Pakistan, such as the desert region of the south and
southeast, experience little precipitation relative to the eastern and central plains of the country, which receive the full
effect of the monsoon rains.
13 “Unnatural Disasters,” Financial Times, August 4, 2010. Although the OCHA figures at the following link illustrate
statistics for the 2010 Pakistan flood as of August 9, the figures illustrate that this is Pakistan’s largest disaster in terms
of the number of people affected in the last 60 years: http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/fullmaps_sa.nsf/luFullMap/
8A7B7152D23697D0C125777B00411D87/$File/FL-2010-000141-PAK_0809_graph.pdf?OpenElement.
14 Ibid.
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Extreme precipitation is the immediate cause of flooding, and is part of weather extremes
spawned during the dominant climate condition for Pakistan—the Asian monsoon system.15
Rivers transporting floodwater from the north can pose flood risks to areas downstream. While
extreme precipitation is the flood hazard, development patterns and infrastructure choices affect
the number of people and structures and the infrastructure at risk. The relative frequency of
significant flooding in Pakistan raises questions about if and how efforts to rebuild can improve
the nation’s resiliency to future extreme weather events and how international experience and aid
can inform resilient rebuilding.
The current flooding in Pakistan is likely to prove the worst flooding disaster in the country’s
history, as far as the number of citizens affected, and the cumulative damage to the region’s
economy. It is not yet clear to what extent the flooding itself, in terms of the flow, inundation
duration, and land area affected exceeds previous flooding episodes, in part because of the
paucity of instrumental data and lack of detailed analyses of recent past and paleo-flooding events
in the region. Forthcoming studies are likely to shed light on whether the current flood fits within
the historical range of extreme flooding events, or truly represents an outlier compared to the
1,000 year record of high rainfall events captured in tree-rings.16
Climate Change and Flooding
A related issue is whether climate change during the last half-century contributed to the extent
and severity of the current flooding. The 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) report stated that scientists project more frequent and more intense weather events due to
global warming.17 However, the report and other scientists contend that a longer time range is
needed to attribute single weather events, such as the 2010 floods in Pakistan, to global warming.
The IPCC report also stated that an increase in precipitation is projected in the Asian monsoon
associated with man-made global warming. The report points out, however, that the role of
aerosols in general, and carbon aerosols in particular, complicates the nature of monsoon
precipitation, especially Asian monsoon.18 Detecting a global-warming induced fingerprint in the
current flooding may prove elusive until more detailed and focused scientific studies of the nature
of the current flooding are completed. Even if global warming were identified as a contributing
factor to the severity of the current flooding, it may not be possible to equate the global warming
“signal” to an increase in deaths, injuries, and economic losses because changes in population
demographics, infrastructure, and other factors also contribute to vulnerability to weather
extremes. Disentangling climate change effects from demographic factors contributing to
economic losses has been notoriously difficult for natural disasters such as floods and tropical

15 Defined by the National Weather Service as “a thermally driven wind arising from differential heating between a
land mass and the adjacent ocean that reverses its direction seasonally.” See http://www.nws.noaa.gov/glossary/.
16 New scientific research is emerging that provides detailed information on the location, duration, and severity of
drought and rainfall events in the region affected by the Asian monsoon, which includes India and Pakistan. In a recent
study, tree ring records were examined to reconstruct dry and wet periods over the past 1,000 years for regions of
monsoon Asia. Edward R. Cook et al., “Asian Monsoon Failure and Megadrought During the Last Millennium,”
Science, vol. 328 (April 23, 2010), pp. 486-489. Although the study focused on periods of drought (triggered when the
monsoon “failed”), it noted that “Monsoon failures, megadroughts, and extreme flooding events have repeatedly
affected the agrarian peoples of Asia over the past millennium.”
17 IPCC, “Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change,” Chapter 10, Global Climate Predictions, 2007.
18 Ibid, Executive Summary.
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cyclones in the United States.19 Therefore, although the monsoon’s floodwaters appear broadly
consistent with predicted climate change impacts for the region, it is currently not possible to
attribute direct causality.
Effects on Infrastructure, Energy Disruption, and
Rebuilding

Rebuilding challenges include reconstruction of destroyed or damaged housing and infrastructure,
including electrical generation and distribution, roads, bridges, rail lines, levees, dams/barrages,
and irrigation works. As of late August, authoritative assessments of the damage to infrastructure
or financial requirements for reconstruction were unavailable. Early damage estimates included:
5,000 miles of roads and railways, 11,000 schools, and 400 health facilities, with damage being
particularly severe in northern regions like the Swat Valley.20 The difficulty, time, and expense of
rebuilding this lost infrastructure is likely to be substantial. Two U.S. university researchers using
primarily data on the flood characteristics and pre-flood economic data estimated damages
between $5.1 billion and $7.1 billion to building and transportation infrastructure and $2.12
billion in losses from the disruption of trade.21 This flood damage infrastructure exacerbates
preexisting infrastructure needs in Pakistan.
Floods also have shut down some electricity, oil, and gas facilities. According to media reports,
around 2.8 gigawatts of power generation capacity in flood affected areas may still be offline.
(Pakistan’s total power generation capacity before the flood was around 19 gigawatts.22) Most of
the outages are due to damage to power plants and to the electricity grid. Around 0.9 gigawatts of
generation capacity is offline because the oil, natural gas, or other energy sources that fuel it
cannot reach power plants.23 Output at key refining and natural gas facilities has been curtailed
due to disruption of transport to customers.24 Prior to the floods, the country was already suffering
from a shortage of electricity generation capacity and rolling blackouts,25 and the Obama

19 See, for example, Roger A. Pielke, Jr. and Mary Downton, “Precipitation and Damaging Floods: Trends in the
United States, 1932-97,” Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, October 15, 2000, pp. 3625-3637; and Roger
Pielke, Jr., “Future Economic Damage from Tropical Cyclones: Sensitivities to Societal and Climate Changes,”
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A., 2007 (published online, doi: 10.1098/rsta.2007.2086).
20 Carlotta Gall, “Pakistan flood sets back years of gains on infrastructure,” New York Times, August 26, 2010; OCHA
Situation Aug 27 Report
. Also, more than 6,000 schools are being used as emergency shelters.
21 Michael J. Hicks and Mark L. Burton, Preliminary Damage Estimates for Pakistani Flood Events, 2010, Center for
Business and Economic Research, Ball State University, August 2010, http://cber.iweb.bsu.edu/research/
PakistanFlood.pdf. The analysis included primarily commercial and residential building losses and rail and highway
impacts.
22 Energy Information Administration, “International Energy Statistics,” U.S. Department of Energy.
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/cfapps/ipdbproject/IEDIndex3.cfm?tid=2&pid=2&aid=7. Latest available figures from EIA are
for 2007.
23 Khalid Mustafa, “Deluge impact: power system still deprived of 2,796 MW,” The News (International), Aug 27,
2010, http://www.thenews.com.pk/27-08-2010/National/1518.htm.
24 Natalie Obiko Pearson, “Pakistan Flood Shuts Biggest Refinery, Cuts Natural Gas Output,” Bloomberg
Businessweek, August 11, 2010. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-08-11/pakistan-flood-shuts-biggest-
refinery-cuts-natural-gas-output.html.
25 The Pakistani government has been increasing electricity tariff rates, a politically unpopular measure, in order to
reduce subsidies and spur energy investment. These adjustments are part of Pakistan’s program with International
Monetary Fund and has the support of other multilateral institutions and the U.S. Department of State. Shortly
(continued...)
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Administration had pledged $185 million toward various measures to improve Pakistan’s energy
supply.26
Assessments of the value and replacement cost of other infrastructure (e.g., energy, medical, and
educational facilities) or a reconstruction timeline were not available as of late August. Among
the challenges for rebuilding the infrastructure are: prioritizing reconstruction actions; the
availability of materials, equipment, and expertise; and mechanisms for oversight of construction
and use of funds.
Effects on Agriculture and Food Security
Agriculture is one of the primary mainstays of Pakistan’s economy. It accounts for approximately
23% of GDP, employs about 43% of the labor force and provides about 60% of the country’s
export earnings.27 Arable crops, livestock, and fishing and forestry represent 65%, 31%, and 4%
of Pakistan’s agricultural GDP, respectively. Pakistan typically has two major growing seasons,
Rabi (winter crop, spring harvest) and Kharif (summer crop, fall harvest).28 The Kharif crop is
also called the summer or monsoon crop because it is grown during the time of the southwest
monsoons, which typically occur from July to October. During the Kharif season, agricultural
activities take place in rain-fed and irrigated areas. During the Rabi season, agricultural activities
take place only in the irrigated areas. Nearly 80% of the cropped area is irrigated, producing
about 90% of Pakistan’s total farm output.
Pakistan’s agriculture sector has suffered severe losses as a result of the torrential rain and
flooding of July and August, 2010. The majority of adverse flooding impacts have occurred in
four provinces: the Punjab, often called the breadbasket of Pakistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
(KPk) in the north, and the provinces of Sindh and Baluchistan in the south, all of which have
significant crop production. Approximately 80% of people in the flood-affected areas depend on
agriculture for their livelihood. The affected populations have suffered severe crop, livestock, and
grain stock losses, though assessments of medium and longer term impacts on the agricultural
sector in Pakistan are still ongoing.

(...continued)
following the U.S. Congress’s passage of the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-73), the U.S.
Department of State launched the Pakistan Signature Energy Program.
26 U.S. Department of State, “The United States Announces Phase II of the Signature Energy Program for Pakistan,”
press release, July 19, 2010, http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2010/07/144820.htm, and “The United States Announces
the Pakistan Signature Energy Program,” press release, October 28, 2009, http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2009/oct/
130995.htm.
27 International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Islamic Republic of Pakistan: Country strategic
opportunities programme
, Rome, March 25, 2009, http://www.ifad.org/gbdocs/eb/96/e/EB-2009-96-R-9.pdf.
28 Rabi crops, such as wheat, barley, maize, peas, oats, and mustard, are typically planted in winter from October to
December and harvested in spring from April to June; Kharif crops, such as millet, rice, corn, pulses, cotton, and
soybean, are typically planted with the onset of the monsoon in different parts of the country, often between July and
August, and then are harvested in the fall from September to October. In between the Rabi and the Kharif seasons there
can be a short season during the summer months known as the Zaid season.
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Crops
Rapid damage assessments by U.N. agencies led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations (FAO) estimates that at least 3.3 million hectares countrywide of standing crops,
including rice, maize, cotton, sugarcane, fruit orchards and vegetables, have been damaged or lost
completely due to flooding, with about 1.3 million hectares affected in the four hardest hit
provinces.29 This represents about 14% of the total cropped area in 2008.30 The cereal crops of the
current Kharif or monsoon season (including rice, maize, sorghum, and millet), planted in
May/July and scheduled to be harvested from September onward, typically account for
approximately 35% of the annual national cereal production. Preliminary reports from FAO and
the Asian Development Bank have estimated that as much as 25% of the cotton crop has been
affected. Pakistan consequently may be a net importer rather than an exporter of cotton in 2010 in
order to support its textile industry. Substantial losses of important export crops such as cotton,
sugarcane, and rice, will have a large negative impact on the country’s trade balance and
household incomes, while losses in the production of staple cereals will exacerbate household
food security issues in the country.
While the floods are causing severe negative effects on agricultural production in the current
season, the damage and impacts will likely have broader implications for future agricultural
production and food security in Pakistan. Wheat is the main staple in Pakistan, providing about
35% of the average per capita calorie requirement in 2008. Wheat is mainly irrigated and
contributes approximately two-thirds of the annual national cereal production. It is cultivated
primarily during the Rabi season, when it is typically planted in October/November and harvested
in April/May.
Official final estimates of wheat production from the 2009/2010 Rabi season, which was
successfully harvested prior to the flood, were close to 23.4 million tonnes, a near record amount.
However, the flood waters have resulted in serious losses of wheat stocks that are held at the
household level. These reserves serve as the primary source of food for most rural families until
the next harvest in April. Tentative estimates made by FAO indicate that 500,000 to 600,000
tonnes of wheat stocked at the farm level may have been damaged or lost to the floods.
The losses of wheat at the household level could also have a negative impact on planting of the
2010/11 Rabi season, which is scheduled to begin in October/November. The floods have resulted
in the loss of seeds for planting; other agricultural inputs such as fertilizer; livestock; and savings.
In addition, damage to irrigation facilities and wells could affect wheat production in the next
Rabi season, as 90 % of Pakistan’s wheat crop is irrigated.
FAO has established a response management team and is working in the flood-affected provinces
as well as across Pakistan to provide technical assistance for two primary goals: meeting the
upcoming wheat planting season, and saving livestock. Using existing funds, FAO will provide
critical agricultural inputs, such as seed, fertilizers, and farming tools to clear water-logged fields,
to hundreds of thousands of farmers for the coming planting season.

29 FAO, Pakistan Flooding: Executive Brief, September 10, 2010, http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/tc/tce/pdf/
Pakistan_Floods_Executive_Brief__10_September_2010.pdf.
30 FAOSTAT estimates Pakistan’s total arable land to be about 23 million hectares.
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Livestock
The floods have affected the most densely populated livestock areas in Pakistan. The national
livestock population was estimated at 217 million animals in 2006, including cattle, buffalo,
sheep, goats, donkeys, and poultry. Estimates show that over 1.2 million livestock and 6 million
poultry have perished, though final numbers are expected to be much higher.31 In KPk alone, a
recently completed rapid agricultural sector assessment by FAO found that over 67,000 head of
small and large livestock have died, and almost 600,000 more will perish without emergency feed
and veterinary support. In addition, poultry losses have been estimated in the millions, with the
entire poultry stock wiped out in some areas. Many animals died because they had to be left
behind when people were rescued by the Pakistani military and other rescue services.
FAO estimates that “millions of surviving animals are now facing severe feed shortages,
threatening generations of Pakistan’s livestock,”32 FAO has stated that its primary priority
currently is maintaining and keeping healthy the surviving population of livestock. Getting feed
and veterinary services to those in need continues to be a major challenge as supplies of animal
feed such as straw and forage is in limited supply, and transportation of goods and services is
severely limited due to considerable damage to critical infrastructure. The United Nations has
asked for $5.7 million in emergency assistance for livestock, and FAO has mobilized $2 million
from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and Belgium.33 Using existing funds, FAO
is working to reach tens of thousands of households with supplementary feed and veterinary
support.
Food Security
Prior to the recent flooding, poverty and hunger in Pakistan were already widespread and were
especially prevalent in rural areas. Nearly two-thirds of the population and 80% of the country’s
poor (about 35 million people) live in rural parts of the country. Women in Pakistan, who have the
lowest socio-economic status in South Asia, are often among the most vulnerable populations,
along with children. The recent global food price and economic crises of 2008-2009 exacerbated
poverty and food security issues in Pakistan. FAO estimated that an additional 17 million people
became food-insecure as a result of food price inflation in Pakistan over the past few years, and
that the poorest households are now spending more than 70% of their incomes on food. Even
before the flooding, FAO had estimated that about 60 million people were food-insecure in
Pakistan, which accounts for about half of the country’s population. While the full extent of
damage from the summer 2010 flooding has not yet been fully quantified, the direct and future
losses are likely to impact national production of staple crops, such as wheat and rice, and affect
the food security of millions of people.
Effects on Health
Immediate and long-term health risks caused by the flood are high. Flooding can increase the
spread of water-borne diseases when access to clean drinking water is compromised. Likewise,

31 FAO, op. cit.
32 See http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/44803/icode/.
33 As of September 10, 2010.
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standing water caused by flooding can serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes, increasing the
potential for vector-borne diseases. These risks are heightened when there is significant
population displacement, abnormal overcrowding, and a reduction in disease control activities.34
Children are particularly vulnerable in these circumstances.
Access to health services and medicines is of key concern in Pakistan’s flood-affected areas, as is
the restoration of the country’s public health infrastructure. The Pakistan Health Cluster reports
that over 450 health facilities in flood-affected areas have been damaged or destroyed, including
several hospitals.35 Of key concern is the insufficient access that women have to reproductive
health services and the limited number of female health workers available.36 Poor hygiene and
sanitation conditions in flood affected areas represent a major risk factor, particularly in
settlements where individuals have informally or officially gathered. UNICEF reports indicate
that approximately 3.5 million flood survivors only have access to contaminated water.37
As of September 3, 2010, close to 4.6 million individuals have received flood-related medical
treatment. The main conditions reported are acute diarrhea, acute respiratory infections, skin
diseases, and quickly increasing cases of malaria.38 While few cases have been officially
confirmed as yet, cholera is endemic in Pakistan and the threat of an outbreak in flood-affected
areas remains critical. The U.N. Health Cluster is currently treating all cases of acute watery
diarrhea and severe dehydration as if they were cholera. The present health issues are preventable
and treatable; however, if clean water is not supplied and environmental hazards not addressed,
WHO projects that a worst-case scenario includes 1.5 million cases of diarrheal diseases
(including up to 140,000 cases of cholera), and up to 100,000 cases of malaria over the next three
months.39 In addition, there is some concern of potential cases of typhoid fever, Hepatitis A and E,
Leptospirosis, Dengue fever, Measles and Polio, and increasing malnutrition among children and
pregnant women.40 Mental health care for survivors dealing with trauma is also an acknowledged
priority.

34 WHO, Flooding and Communicable Diseases Fact Sheet: Risk assessment and Preventive Measures, at
http://www.who.int/hac/techguidance/ems/flood_cds/en.
35 Pakistan Health Cluster, “Floods in Pakistan, Bulletin No 16,” September 3, 2010, at http://www.emro.who.int/eha/
pdf/Pakistan%20Health%20Cluster%20Bulletin%2016.pdf and Pakistan Health Cluster, “Floods in Pakistan, Bulletin
No 12,” August 16, 2010, at http://www.who.int/hac/crises/pak/sitreps/16august2010/en/index.html.
36 Meriwether Beatty, “Under Water: Women’s Access to Reproductive Health Care in Pakistan,” Global health
Magazine
, August 25, 2010, at http://www.globalhealthmagainze.com/gust_blog_under_water/.
37 Kaiser Family Foundation, “At Least 3.5M Pakistanis Have No Access To Clean Water, Raising Risk For
Waterborne Diseases,” August 26, 2010, at http://globalhealth.kff.org/Daily-Reports/2010/August/26/GH-082610-
Pakistan.aspx.
38 Pakistan Health Cluster, “Floods in Pakistan, Bulletin No 14,” August 25, 2010, at http://www.emro.who.int/EHA/
pdf/Pakistan%20Health%20Cluster%20Bulletin%2014%20-%20August%2025.pdf.
39 United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “Pakistan: 3.5 Million Children at Risk of
Deadly Disease,” press release, August 16, 2010, at http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/VVOS-88DPRA?
OpenDocument&query=children&emid=FL-2010-000141-PAK.
40 WHO, Communicable Disease Risk Among Populations Affected by Flooding in Pakistan, August 2010, at
http://www.who.int/diseasecontrol_emergencies/publications/Pakistan_floods2010_08_04.pdf.
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Economic Effects of the Floods
With much of Pakistan still flooded, it is too early to determine the short-term and long-term
effects on its economy. Such assessments will have to await the receding of the flood waters to
determine the extent of damage to Pakistan’s crops, farmland, housing, roads and bridges,
electrical grid, and other critical elements to its economic recovery. Also, as the response to the
floods shifts from emergency relief to reconstruction, the level of international support and the
effectiveness of recovery programs run by the Pakistan government and the international
assistance community will be important forces in recovery process. In addition, other factors—
such as the degree and pace at which the millions of displaced people return to their home towns
and villages, and the actions of militant groups in the post-flood period—will have serious
implications about the economic ripple effects of the floods of 2010.
Some preliminary assessments have been made regarding some elements of the short-term effects
of the floods on Pakistan’s economy. As indicated above (see “Flooding Impacts on Agriculture
and Food Security in Pakistan”), the ADB and FAO estimate that about 14% of Pakistan’s
cultivated land has been affected by the floods, resulting in the loss of about 25% of the cotton
crop and an undetermined portion of the autumn cereal crops. Although less than 1% of the
livestock was lost in the flood, these losses may rise due to feed shortages and lack of veterinary
care after the flood waters recede.
The broader short-term economic effects of the flooding are already being felt. The floods have
sent food prices soaring, exacerbating fears of a new round of high inflation. In addition, greater
government expenditures on the emergency relief effort are almost certain to widen the fiscal
deficit. Reportedly, the United Nations has estimated that the floods will increase Pakistan’s fiscal
expenditures by $4 billion in fiscal year 2010/2011.41 A preliminary assessment submitted to
Pakistan’s Minister of Finance has estimated that there may be zero real GDP growth and 25%
inflation in the current fiscal year, compared to the IMF targets of 4.5% real GDP growth and
9.5% inflation.42 Other estimates predict real GDP growth of about 2%-3% for the current fiscal
year, compared to 4.1% in the previous fiscal year.43
The long-term economic effects are more difficult to assess. According to one source, repairing
damaged infrastructure, including countless destroyed roads, bridges, and dams, could cost up to
$15 billion.44 Critical factors that will influence the speed of Pakistan’s economic progress over
the next few years are: the pace of the recovery of the agricultural sector; the status of the
millions of displaced people; and the level of international support for the relief and
reconstruction assistance.
Agricultural production not only plays a critical role for Pakistan’s domestic economy, it also is
important for its exports. Pakistan’s rice exports in 2009 were worth $1.8 billion, accounting for
10% of its exports. Cotton and cotton yarn exports in 2009 totaled $3.2 billion, or 18% of
Pakistan’s total exports. Cotton is also vital for Pakistan’s other leading exports—clothing and

41 Farhan Bokhari, “Pakistan Seeks $10bn Loan Restructure,” Financial Times, August 19, 2010.
42 “We’re Looking at 0% GDP Growth and 25% Inflation,” The International News, August 23, 2010. Pakistan’s fiscal
year runs from July 1 to June 30.
43 Economist Intelligence Unit, “Pakistan Country Report,” Economist, September 2010.
44 “Debts Pushing Pakistan to the Brink of Ruin,” The Independent, August 22, 2010.
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other textile articles—which together were worth $5.8 billion, or 33% of total exports. A slow
recovery in agricultural production will adversely effect its balance of trade and potentially
contribute to a balance of payments crisis.
The ADB has offered a loan of $2 billion and the World Bank has offered a loan of $1 billion to
be used primarily in the reconstruction of Pakistan’s infrastructure damaged by the floods. There
are also indications that Pakistan’s need for additional assistance will be on the agenda of the next
meeting of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan, scheduled for October 14 and 15, 2010, in
Brussels.45
Pakistan’s Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh was in Washington the week of August 23-27
to meet with the IMF as part of the fifth review of the IMF loans. On November 20, 2008, the
IMF’s Executive Board approved a SDR 5.169 billion (at the time, the equivalent of $7.65
billion)46 stand-by arrangement for Pakistan to avert a balance of payments crisis. The IMF
subsequently approved an additional SDR 2.067 billion ($3.22 billion) in assistance on July 27,
2009. These loans were to be paid out in seven installments (called “tranches”), ending in
November 2010, following reviews of Pakistan’s economic progress. As part of the loan
agreement, Pakistan promised to make a number of changes in fiscal and monetary policy
(commonly known as “conditionalities”), including gradually lowering its fiscal deficit as a
percentage of GDP. The agreement also stipulated that Pakistan would have to repay the loans
starting in 2012.
Prior to the floods, Pakistan had failed to meet several of the IMF conditionalities, and the IMF
was reportedly applying pressure on Pakistan to meet its commitments.47 Pakistan’s fiscal deficit
has increased to 6.2% of GDP, a level exceeding the IMF target of 5.1% of GDP. The cost of the
emergency relief efforts are likely to make it impossible to meet the IMF target. Pakistan
reportedly asked the IMF to relax this and other conditionalities during the August meetings in
Washington. It also requested the release of the remaining balance of the IMF loans, worth about
$2.6 billion. No official announcement of the outcome of the fifth review has been made.
On September 16, however, the IMF announced a $451 million emergency loan to help Pakistan
deal with the aftermath of the flooding.
An economic problem looming on the horizon is the cost of servicing the IMF loans and other
debt incurred since 2008. Pakistan’s current outstanding debt is $55.5 billion, which is 56% of
GDP. Under the current agreement, repayments on the IMF loan will cost the Pakistan
government over $3 billion per year starting in fiscal year 2012/2013. There is concern that the
cost of servicing its debts may undermine Pakistan’s economic recovery.

45 On September 26, 2008, an ad-hoc group of interested nations and organizations met on the sidelines of a United
Nations General Assembly session to discuss Pakistan balance of payments crisis. Initially called the “Friends of
Pakistan,” the group held its first ministerial meeting on April 17, 2009, in Tokyo. The group subsequently renamed
itself the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FODP).
46 The SDR, or “special drawing right” is the official unit of account for the IMF. Its value is determined by a basket of
16 major currencies, including the U.S. dollar. As such, the exchange rate between the SDR and the U.S. dollar varies
over time. Unless otherwise noted, the U.S. dollar equivalents cited in the memo are valued using the exchange rate at
the time of the event.
47 The IMF was apparently particularly frustrated by Pakistan’s failure to implement a value-added tax (VAT), which
has been held up for political reasons.
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Humanitarian Implications of the Flood
The humanitarian implications of the flooding in Pakistan are vast (Table 3). Humanitarian issues
such as health, sufficient food, water, and shelter, and displaced populations exist. According to
an emergency response plan for Pakistan put forth by the United Nations, distributing food
assistance to flood victims is among the top priorities for the overall immediate flood response.48
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the lead U.N. agency responsible for coordinating and
leading the efforts to address the immediate food needs of flood-affected populations in the
hardest-hit areas of the country. The key expected outcomes from the food security related efforts
will be to:
• Stabilize and/or improve food consumption over the assistance period for six
million flood-affected people per month during the next 12 months,
• Increase the supply of nutritious food to infants and young children, and
• Prevent additional losses of surviving livestock.
In order to meet the relief food needs of up to six million people, the United Nations is requesting
$600 million, of which a portion will be spent on maintaining surviving livestock. Since the
beginning of August 2010, the WFP has received $103 million.
As of September, 2010, WFP reports that it has provided almost 3.0 million people with a one-
month ration of food across 44 districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Baluchistan, Azad
Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Punjab provinces.49 WFP is working with over 30 NGOs to
provide food to between 125,000 and 150,000 people per day in order to meet their ultimate goal
of reaching more than six million people with food aid over the next 12 months. Many
communities are inaccessible by land because of remaining high floodwaters and/or because
roads and bridges have been washed away. WFP is transporting food by mule and air transport
(primarily helicopter) to inaccessible populations.
A second major concern is the fate of displaced populations. Over 1.8 million houses have been
damaged or destroyed, and a similar amount of people are being accommodated in schools,
colleges, and other makeshift sites. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination
of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), a large need for emergency shelter exists. The majority of
adults in these sites are women. Many of the men have endured the flooding and gone back to
their property to salvage belongings and deter squatters. There have been some reports about the
potential of displaced people to cause political unrest in some cities. For example, thousands of
people displaced by the floods, most of them ethnic Sindhis, are arriving in Karachi. According to
some, this could be adding a volatile new element to the political dynamic there. While Sindhi

48 The Pakistan Initial Floods Emergency Response Plan (PIFERP) was released by the United Nations on August 11,
2010. The emergency response plan seeks USD$460 million to enable international partners (U.N. organizations and
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to support the Government of Pakistan in addressing the needs of flood-
affected families during the immediate relief period, of which $156.25 million would go towards addressing immediate
food security needs. The plan will be revised within 30 days to reflect assessed needs as the situation evolves and will
include strategies for assisting people with early recovery from the floods. For the full document, see
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWFiles2010.nsf/FilesByRWDocUnidFilename/SKEA-887J5J-full_report.pdf/
$File/full_report.pdf.
49 World Food Programme, Monsoon Flooding in Pakistan, Operational Update, September 11, 2010. See
http://documents.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/communications/wfp225461.pdf.
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nationalists are welcoming them, opponents such as Muttahida Qaumi Movement (M.Q.M.)
members warn that they will create more violence.50
Table 3. Provinces in Pakistan Affected by Flooding
As of September 6, 2010
Population
Province Deaths
Injured
Houses
Damaged
Affected
Baluchistan 48
102
75,261
672,171
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
1,156
1,193
200,799
4,365,909
Punjab 110
350
500,000
8,200,000
Sindh 199
909
1,058,862
6,988,491
AJ&K 71
87
7,108
245,000
Gilgit Baltistan
183
60
2,830
81,605
Total 1,767
2,701
1,844,860
20,553,176
Source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, September 14, 2010.
Political-Security Implications of the Flood51
The Obama Administration’s strategy toward Pakistan, and the broad goals of the Enhanced
Partnership With Pakistan Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-73, also known as the Kerry-Lugar-Berman act),
are likely to be significantly frustrated by the worst natural disaster in Pakistan’s 63-year history.
Central to the provisions of P.L. 111-73 was the authorization of $7.5 billion in nonmilitary U.S.
assistance to Pakistan for the period FY2010-FY2014, a major increase in economic and
development aid aimed at bolstering Pakistan’s institutions and infrastructure, as well as
demonstrating a long-term U.S. commitment to partnership with that country. Many observers
now consider it likely that a portion of any funds appropriated in the future will be diverted to
recovery efforts and could thus be unavailable for the types of capacity-building programs and
projects originally envisaged.
In the nearer-term, U.S. interests in countering Islamist militancy in the region, and strengthening
Pakistan’s democratic institutions are under greater threat due to the chaos and destruction caused
by widespread flooding there.52 While ongoing U.S. and NATO military operations in
neighboring Afghanistan are relatively unaffected, the circumstances inside Pakistan appear to be
providing time and space for both Afghan and Pakistani Taliban militants, as well as numerous
other assorted indigenous Islamist extremist groups, to regroup. Moreover, by undertaking
disaster relief efforts in areas poorly served by the government, Islamist charities linked to such
groups could boost recruitment and improve their standing with affected residents. The U.S.

50 Carlotta Gall, “After Flood, Pakistani Officials Try to Quell Anger,” International Herald Tribune, September 7,
2010, p. 3.
51 See also CRS Report R41307, Pakistan: Key Current Issues and Developments, by K. Alan Kronstadt.
52 “U.S. Strategy in Pakistan Upended by Floods,” New York Times, August 19, 2010. Even before the flooding began,
Pakistan was suffering from multiple armed insurgencies, major terrorist attacks on cities, sectarian violence, a
teetering economy, lack of state services, and a largely impotent civilian administration (see, for example, Ahmed
Rashid, “The Anarchic Republic of Pakistan,” National Interest, August 24, 2010).
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government is actively seeking to counter this possibility through its own ground response, with
officials in Washington viewing the catastrophe as an opportunity to demonstrate America’s
commitment to and friendship with the Pakistan people. After surveying the affected areas in
person, the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator John Kerry, declared
that helping Pakistan “is in all of our interests.”53
On the political front, an already weak civilian government in Islamabad is criticized for what has
been viewed as a slow and woefully insufficient response, further damaging its credibility.54 In
contrast, the Pakistani military, widely viewed as the country’s most relatively capable institution,
has benefited in the public eye following its energetic relief efforts in affected areas. For some
observers, this dynamic could threaten recent progress toward democracy in a country that has
seen four military coups in the past 42 years.
Pakistan-U.S. Relations, Militant Groups, and Public Sentiment
Potential to Improve U.S. Standing in Pakistan
Hopes abide that the rapid and major disaster relief assistance being provided by the United
States may contribute to lessening widespread and long-held anti-American sentiment in
Pakistan. In this respect, the tragedy could also be seen as an opportunity to narrow the gaping
“trust gap” in U.S.-Pakistan relations. The U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and
Pakistan, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, has been explicit in seeking this goal.55 By some
accounts, this is taking place, although the evidence remains anecdotal.56 Yet there is also
evidence that Pakistanis are largely unaware of U.S. largesse in the recent past and do not report
seeing tangible benefits from same. According to one recent opinion survey, about half of
Pakistani respondents believe the United States gives little or no assistance to their country,
suggesting that public relations gains from aid may be fleeting, at best.57 Moreover, while the
U.S. government has committed $200 million to date, private contributions have been quite small
relative to those given for other recent natural disasters, potentially fueling Pakistani resentment
and distrust.58

53 John Kerry, “A Call for Help in Flood-Ravaged Pakistan” (op-ed), Boston Globe, August 29, 2010. See also David
Ignatius, “The Case for Aiding Flooded Pakistan” (op-ed), Washington Post, August 29, 2010.
54 Numerous anecdotal reports from the ground indicate that, even as of early September, there had been no notable
government response across wide swaths of affected areas (CRS interviews with returning relief workers, September
15, 2010).
55 “U.S. Offers Aid to Rescue Pakistanis and Reclaim Image,” New York Times, August 15, 2010. See also Shuja
Nawaz, “A Chance to Build Trust in Pakistan” (op-ed), Washington Post, August 12, 2010. There is some empirical
evidence that such a dynamic occurred in the recent past: A Pew poll taken shortly before Pakistan’s catastrophic
October 2005 earthquake found only 23% of Pakistanis expressing a favorable view of the United States, the lowest
percentage for any country surveyed. That percentage doubled to 46% in an ACNielsen poll taken after large-scale U.S.
disaster relief efforts in earthquake-affected areas, with the great majority of Pakistanis indicating that their perceptions
had been positively influenced by witnessing such efforts.
56 “US Aid Winning Friends in Flood-Ravaged Pakistan,” Associated Press, August 10, 2010; “Opinions of U.S. Rise
Along With Airlifts,” Washington Post, August 12, 2010; “In Pakistan, U.S. Hopes Aid Builds Goodwill,” USA Today,
September 2, 2010. A recent study on the effects of foreign aid following Pakistan’s October 2005 earthquake found
that many “hearts and minds” were, in fact, won by the infusion (“Study: Aid After 2005 Quake Won Trust in
Pakistan,” Washington Post, September 7, 2010).
57 “U.S. Aid Buys Little Goodwill,” Washington Post, August 24, 2010.
58 “In Pakistan, A Flood of Aid and Mistrust,” Washington Post, September 6, 2010; “Pakistan Floods: Could ‘Donor
(continued...)
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Islamist Extremists Groups and Disaster Relief
Some extremist-run charities have undertaken relief efforts in areas where government aid has
been lacking. By providing food, shelter, and other benefits to desperate victims, such
organizations may win sympathy and even (additional) future support from affected residents. Of
potential concern, especially from a U.S. perspective, are the activities of the Falah-i-Insaniat and
Jamaat-ud-Dawa. (JuD). These are the charity and political wings, respectively, of Lashkar-e-
Taiba (LeT), a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) held responsible for the
Mumbai attack of November 2008, as well as many other terrorist activities.59 When asked about
the likelihood of extremist groups gaining strength and influence through their own relief
activities, Secretary of State Clinton said she did not think it was great and suggested that such
reports were being overstated.60
Another U.S.-designated FTO, the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP, also known as the Pakistani
Taliban) denounced U.S. assistance and called for a boycott of all Western aid.61 Although the
TTP has threatened to attack Western aid workers in the country since the floods began, no such
attacks are known to have taken place, and the U.S. military is taking significant precautions to
ensure the safety of own its forces, as well as for other U.S. aid workers in-country. In late
August, a senior U.S. military officer in Pakistan stated that he had “seen no security threat
whatsoever” to U.S. personnel in Pakistan in the preceding three weeks, and he lauded the
Pakistani military for its provision of force protection.62
Domestic Political Effects
Pakistan’s particular circumstances—poor government capacity, struggling economy, sagging
infrastructure, multiple armed insurgencies, and all manner of regional, sectarian, and class
divisions—leave it ripe for potentially major upheaval as a result of the floods. In the view of
some analysts, the aggregated pressures are so great that the current national government is seen
as unlikely to survive and complete its five-year term set to end in the spring of 2013.63 Some
more alarmist observers have even suggested that the Pakistani state itself could collapse,
although most believe this is a remote possibility.64

(...continued)
Fatigue’ Harm US-Pakistan Relations?,” Christian Science Monitor, September 8, 2010.
59 The JuD is reported to have distributed thousands of packages containing food, soap, and other personal effects,
along with 3,000 rupees (about $35) in cash (“Islamist Charity Aims to Be Pakistani’s Salvation,” Reuters, September
3, 2010).
60 See the State Department’s August 19, 2010, transcript at http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2010/08/146100.htm.
61 “Pakistani Taliban Urge Rejection of Foreign Flood Aid,” Agence France Presse, August 11, 2010. Even a senior
leader of a mainstream Islamist party, the Jamaat-e-Islami, labeled aid from the United States (and India) as “poison”
for the Pakistani nation and people (“Pakistan Islamist Party Says US, India Funds ‘Poison’ for Flood Victims,” BBC
Monitoring South Asia, August 25, 2010).
62 “Mullen Shares Concern for Aid Workers,” Armed Forces Press Service, August 27, 2010; Brig. Gen. Michael
Nagata quoted in the August 25, 2010, Pentagon transcript at http://www.defense.gov/transcripts/transcript.aspx?
transcriptid=4677.
63 “Floods in Pakistan Carry the Seeds of Upheaval,” New York Times, September 6, 2010.
64 “Pakistan Flood Crisis Raises Fears of Country’s Collapse,” McClatchy News, August 13, 2010.
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Status of the Civilian Government
The current national coalition government was seated in the spring of 2008 after relatively free
and fair elections. It is led by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) of President Asif Zardari and
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. After flooding began in late July, President Zardari came
under intense criticism for going ahead with a planned state visit to Europe even as the scope of
the devastation was coming clear. His early August travel, which included costly stays at luxury
hotels, hugely exacerbated a pre-existing perception of the President as detached from the human
suffering taking place in his own country.65 Zardari contended that he had used the trip to
“mobilize foreign assistance” and “had to choose substance over symbolism.”66 Nevertheless,
Pakistanis appear to feel significant anger toward politicians at all levels of government, and this
sense of abandonment in time of need could significantly weaken the standing of democratic
forces in the country.67 One senior Pakistani analyst saw both the federal and provincial
government responses as representative of the broader “abysmal failure” of the country’s political
class. He predicts “catastrophic consequences” for the PPP-led national government if relief work
is not undertaken efficiently and with transparency.68 In a country where corruption and political
patronage are rife, angry accusations have arisen that officials are manipulating the distribution of
relief resources to their political allies.69
Internal Administrative Issues
The internal political effects of the floods remain unclear to date, but are likely to be quite
serious. There have been signs that Pakistan’s already fraught center-province and interprovincial
tensions are being exacerbated by economic hardship and competition for resources. For example,
in the densely populated Punjab province, home to more than half of Pakistan’s total population,
the provincial government of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-
Nawaz (PNL-N, which represents the main opposition at the national level) has tussled with the
federal government over aid disbursement issues. The PML-N may seek to take advantage of
anti-government sentiments to make political inroads in the Sindh province, home to the PPP’s
core votebank.70 Meanwhile, there have been credible allegations that rich landowners, mostly in
Sindh, allowed levees to burst so that floodwaters would be diverted to unprotected areas, sparing
their crops. These actions may have had a negative impact on the neighboring Baluchistan
province.71

65 In a comparison to President G.W. Bush’s response to hurricane devastation on the U.S. Gulf Coast in 2005, one
critic called the floods “Zardari’s Katrina” (Fatima Bhutto, “Zardari’s Katrina,” Foreign Policy (online), August 4,
2010).
66 Asif Ali Zardari, “Pakistan’s Project of Renewal” (op-ed), Wall Street Journal, August 11, 2010.
67 “Will Slow Response to Pakistan Floods Threaten Democracy?,” Christian Science Monitor, August 12, 2010.
68 Hasan-Askari Rizvi, “Is There a Way Out?” (op-ed), Daily Times (Lahore), August 15, 2010. See also Mohsin Khan
and Shuja Nawaz, “Pakistan: Assessing the Tragedy,” New Atlanticist (online), August 26, 2010.
69 “Floods in Pakistan Carry the Seeds of Upheaval,” New York Times, September 6, 2010.
70 “National Flood Relief Strategy” (editorial), Daily Times (Lahore), September 6, 2010; “Pakistan After the Floods: A
Bird’s Eye View,” IHS Global Insight, September 9, 2010.
71 “Pakistan Landlords ‘Diverted Flood Water,’” BBC News, September 2, 2010. A former Pakistani Prime Minister
from Baluchistan accused members of the government of purposefully redirecting floodwaters in his home province,
saying the actions reflected Islamabad’s long-standing disregard for Baloch well-being and would prove costly to it in
terms of public sentiment (“Floods in Pakistan Carry the Seeds of Upheaval,” New York Times, September 6, 2010).
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Role and Standing of the Pakistani Military
Pakistan’s military has always played a key role in the country’s governance; the country has
been ruled directly by the military for more than half of its existence as an independent state. The
ultimately unpopular rule of President-General Pervez Musharraf, who seized power though
unconstitutional means in 1999 and left office in 2008, was harmful to the military’s public
image, which typically rates as the most positive among Pakistani institutions. Since his 2007
ascension to the pinnacle of Pakistani military rank, current Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq
Pervez Kayani has worked with considerable success to restore the army’s prestige while at the
same time withdrawing it from any overt role in governance. With his organization taking the
lead in providing flood relief, Kayani’s influence has only grown, and the military’s Rawalpindi
headquarters is again seen by many as the sole effective locus of state power in Pakistan.72 The
implications are worrisome for proponents of representative government who wish to see
Pakistan’s democratic institutions strengthened further. The U.S. government explicitly supports
Pakistani democracy. When asked about recent controversial statements, a U.S. State Department
spokesman said, “Pakistan has a civilian government and we think it is the best form of
government to take.”73 More recently, Prime Minister Gilani assured the nation that a military
takeover was out of the question.74
Counterinsurgency Operations
Almost immediately upon incoming reports of this latest natural disaster in Pakistan, fears arose
in Washington, Islamabad, and other world capitals that resulting chaos and destruction would
open up space for Pakistan’s numerous Islamist militant groups to regroup and perhaps even
recover from losses suffered from recent, damaging battles with the Pakistani military. There have
already been some reports of militants exploiting the situation with attacks on government
security targets, and devastating suicide bomb attacks against minority Shia demonstrate that the
threat posed by terrorist groups has not subsided as a result of the flooding. Since early August,
some 60,000 Pakistani army troops were diverted to disaster relief efforts. In mid-month, a
spokesman for the Pakistani military asserted that their relief activities would “have no impact on
our fight against militants.”75
President Zardari has warned that “negative forces” could see a boost in recruitment as a result of
the catastrophe. In a similar vein, Foreign Minister Qureshi expressed worries that, in the absence
of sufficient government intervention, food rioting could lead to further violence “being exploited
by people who are known.” Provincial officials have issued similar warnings.76 Some observers

72 “Flood Gives Renewed Clout to Powerful Pakistan Army,” Reuters, September 6, 2010. The Army reports that it is
providing more than half of all relief supplies, about three times the amount being provided by the rest of the
government (“Pakistan Army Seeking Flood Relief Without Dependency on Aid, Mullen Told,” Bloomberg News,
September 2, 2010).
73 “Altaf Asks ‘Patriotic Generals’ to Act,” News (Karachi), August 23, 2010; Imtiaz Alam, “Altaf Hussain’s Martial
Law Balloon” (op-ed), Daily Times (Lahore), August 29, 2010; State Department’s August 26, 2010, press briefing at
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2010/08/146322.htm.
74 “Army Won’t Take Over: PM,” Daily Times (Lahore), September 10, 2010.
75 “Pakistan Floods Could Give Taliban Time to Regroup,” Associated Press, August 11, 2010; spokesman quoted in
“Pakistan Says Won’t Divert Forces From Militant Fight,” Reuters, August 13, 2010. Recent air strikes on Pakistani
Taliban targets in the Tirah Valley of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province suggest that a level of pressure on insurgents
is continuing (“Pakistan Raids Kill 45 Militants, Family Members,” Reuters, September 1, 2010).
76 “Pakistan Leaders Says Militants Could Exploit Flood,” Associated Press, August 19, 2010; Qureshi quoted in
(continued...)
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believe such warnings are overblown and may reflect the desire of Pakistani officials to attract
greater foreign assistance.
In recognition of the overwhelming nature of the flooding, U.S. officials apparently have
refrained from pressing the Pakistani government and army to go ahead with anticipated military
operations in the FATA—especially against the Afghan Taliban-aligned Haqqani network in
North Waziristan—as they had been throughout 2010.77 In August, the deputy commander of the
Office of the U.S. Defense Representative in Pakistan expressed confidence that the Pakistanis
will “continue to wage a dedicated, committed struggle against violent extremism.” More
recently, the commander himself said the numbers of Pakistani troops dedicated to
counterinsurgency operations was unchanged and the focus of the their leadership had “not
wavered.” It is notable that the militants also have suffered setbacks: in the words of the senior-
most U.S. military officer, “I think [the flooding] delays everybody’s timetable,” including “the
enemy’s timetable.”78
Despite these official U.S. and Pakistani expressions of confidence and determination, most
independent observers contend that counterinsurgency efforts in the country now face major and
obvious setbacks, not only due to the need to divert resources to relief efforts, but also because so
much infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed.79 Military gains made in the past 18 months
are thus in jeopardy of being lost as a result of the flooding. In the Swat Valley of the KPk
province, which the Pakistani military had largely cleared of anti-government militants in 2009,
electricity has been widely unavailable and most key roads, bridges, and other infrastructure are
unusable.80 Likewise, although TTP bases in South Waziristan recently were cleared through
major military offensives, efforts to resettle hundreds of thousands of citizens displaced by the
fighting there have been placed on hold.81 Beyond these Pashtun-majority northwestern regions of
the country, the flooding may also contribute to increased conflict and instability in the Pakistani
heartland, where the LeT and other Sunni militant groups are based. Moreover, by creating a flow
of hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons into the southern megacity of Karachi,
the floods have placed even more pressures where interethnic tensions were already high.82

(...continued)
“Pakistan’s Epic Flood” (editorial), Wall Street Journal, August 19, 2010; “Pakistan Says Militants Exploiting Flood
Crisis,” Los Angeles Times, August 20, 2010.
77 “Pakistan Fight Stalls for U.S.,” Wall Street Journal, August 13, 2010.
78 Brig. Gen. Michael Nagata quoted in the August 25, 2010, Pentagon transcript at http://www.defense.gov/transcripts/
transcript.aspx?transcriptid=4677; Vice Adm. Michael LeFever quoted in the September 9, 2010, U.S. Embassy
transcript at http://islamabad.usembassy.gov/pr-10090903.html; Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen quoted in
“Pakistan Army Seeking Flood Relief Without Dependency on Aid, Mullen Told,” Bloomberg News , September 2,
2010.
79 See, for example, “Torrent of Challenges for U.S. in Pakistan” (interview), Council on Foreign Relations, August 20,
2010. Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States reportedly conceded that the military’s resources are stretched thin by
the disaster, meaning its counterinsurgency operations are being hampered (“Flooding Hurts Pakistan Terror Fight,”
Associated Press, September 8, 2010).
80 “Flood Brings Chaos Back to Pakistan’s Swat Valley,” New York Times, August 19, 2010.
81 “For Pakistanis, The Worst May Be Still to Come,” Washington Post, August 18, 2010.
82 Ethnic Pashtuns displaced by conflict in the FATA are now joined in large numbers by ethnic Sindhis from rural
areas, posing a potential threat the established order of Karachi’s dominant Urdu-speaking Mohajirs. Rioting and
targeted killings are ongoing in Karachi; about 1,000 people have been killed in ethnic strife in Karachi in 2010 to date
(“Crush of Refugees Inflames Karachi,” Wall Street Journal, August 26, 2010).
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Some press reports have indicated that the main supply lines for U.S. and NATO forces in
Afghanistan, which run from the Karachi port north to through Quetta or Islamabad, were
significantly disrupted by the flooding. The inundation has forced trucks to take longer routes
than usual, delaying schedules, but a spokesman for the U.S. military’s Transportation Command
said the slower delivery was not meaningfully affecting operations in Afghanistan. While the
immediate affects on US/NATO operations are thus minor, Pentagon officials are concerned that
secondary and tertiary effects impacting regional stability could be seen in the medium and
longer-term.83 The Afghan military has provided some resources to Pakistani flood relief,
potentially improving Pakistan-Afghan relations.
Observations
The flooding in Pakistan is expected to have significant short-term and potential long-term effects
on the country. These effects will be exacerbated by existing problems in Pakistan that range from
poverty and depleted infrastructure, among other things. The short-term effects of flooding are
steadily being realized as displaced people start returning to their homes in northern areas where
floodwaters have receded, and government officials and aid workers begin reporting issues from
all affected areas. The full extent of the long-term effects of the flooding are likely to present
daunting challenges to the country. The long-term effects are likely to manifest themselves in two
ways that have significance to the United States and Congress. One aspect is the humanitarian toll
that is likely to emerge from displaced people, disease, food security, and an economic decline.
Another aspect is the strategic concerns that could result from a weakened government, and a
dissatisfied and disenfranchised population. The strategic implications involve U.S. interests in
countering Islamic militancy in the region, strengthening democracy in Pakistan, and fighting the
war in Afghanistan.


83 “Pakistan Flooding Disrupts Afghan War Supplies,” New York Times, August 24, 2010; CRS interview with Defense
Department official, August 24, 2010.
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Author Contact Information

K. Alan Kronstadt, Coordinator
Peter Folger
Specialist in South Asian Affairs
Specialist in Energy and Natural Resources Policy
akronstadt@crs.loc.gov, 7-5415
pfolger@crs.loc.gov, 7-1517
Pervaze A. Sheikh, Coordinator
Melissa D. Ho
Specialist in Natural Resources Policy
Specialist in Agricultural Policy
psheikh@crs.loc.gov, 7-6070
mho@crs.loc.gov, 7-5342
Bruce Vaughn, Coordinator
Alexandra E. Kendall
Specialist in Asian Affairs
Analyst in Global Health
bvaughn@crs.loc.gov, 7-3144
akendall@crs.loc.gov, 7-7314
Nicole T. Carter
Michael F. Martin
Specialist in Natural Resources Policy
Specialist in Asian Affairs
ncarter@crs.loc.gov, 7-0854
mfmartin@crs.loc.gov, 7-2199
Susan B. Epstein
Neelesh Nerurkar
Specialist in Foreign Policy
Specialist in Energy Policy
sepstein@crs.loc.gov, 7-6678
nnerurkar@crs.loc.gov, 7-2873



Key Policy Staff
Area of Expertise
Name
Phone
E-mail
Pakistan Issues
K. Alan Kronstadt
7-5415 akronstadt@crs.loc.gov
Specialist in South Asian
Affairs
South Asia Issues
Bruce Vaughn
7-3144 bvaughn@crs.loc.gov
Specialist in Asian Affairs
Humanitarian Issues
Rhoda Margesson
7-0425 rmargesson@crs.loc.gov
Specialist in International
Humanitarian Policy
Financing Relief Efforts
Susan B. Epstein
7-6678 sepstein@crs.loc.gov
Specialist in Foreign Policy
Monsoons and Natural Disasters
Peter Folger
7-1517 pfolger@crs.loc.gov
Specialist in Energy and
Natural Resources Policy
Flooding and Waterways
Nicole T. Carter
7-0854 ncarter@crs.loc.gov
Specialist in Natural
Resources Policy
Agricultural Effects of Flooding
Melissa D. Ho
7-5342 mho@crs.loc.gov
Specialist in Agricultural
Policy
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Flooding in Pakistan: Overview and Issues for Congress

Area of Expertise
Name
Phone
E-mail
Health Issues
Alexandra E. Kendall
7-7314 akendal @crs.loc.gov
Analyst in Global Health
Energy and Infrastructure in Pakistan
Neelesh Nerurkar
7-2873 nnerurkar@crs.loc.gov
Specialist in Energy Policy
Economic Effects of Flooding
Michael F. Martin
7-2199 mfmartin@crs.loc.gov
Specialist in Asian Affairs
Environment and Security
Pervaze A. Sheikh
7-6070 psheikh@crs.loc.gov
Specialist in Natural
Resources Policy



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