Monsoon wreaks havoc on Punjab’s rural economy

Unrelenting monsoon rain spells have continued to wreak havoc on Punjab’s agriculture, with the latest spell on Saturday further straining the province’s rural economy. While the rainfall varied in intensity, some areas, such as Mandi Bahaudin, recorded 81mm of rain, and Bahawalnagar 44mm. Hafizabad received 63mm, Gujrat 34mm, and Okara and Sahiwal both recorded 10mm. These rains, coming just days after previous downpours, have aggravated the already dire situation for farmers in the region. The monsoon season, which began in late June and briefly paused in early August, has been marked by alternating spells of rain across the province, with little respite in between. This prolonged downpour has caused extensive damage to a range of crops, further undermining the rural economy.