Government Prepares Major Relief Package for Flood Victims, Farmer Support Plan Under Consideration

Islamabad: The federal government is preparing a major relief package for flood-affected communities, with proposals finalized to ease financial burdens, particularly in electricity bills, Express News reported.

According to sources, the government is considering removing General Sales Tax (GST), FC surcharge, and fixed charges from electricity bills for flood-hit households. Proposals also include eliminating GST and excise duty on fuel price adjustments, along with exemptions from income tax, additional taxes, and retailer sales tax on electricity bills.

Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain confirmed that taxes in flood-affected areas will be waived immediately. He said the federal government will provide relief on electricity bills, while provincial governments will waive land revenue taxes. He added that any inflated bills issued earlier will be reviewed as they had already been printed before the floods.

The minister further revealed that the government plans to introduce a special farmer support package to compensate for crop and livestock losses. The package will be announced once the ongoing survey in flood-hit areas is completed within 7 to 10 days. Preliminary data suggests crop losses of 1 to 3 percent nationwide, with rice crops suffering the most damage.

“Rice cultivation has been severely hit, particularly in Gujranwala Division, where up to 18 percent of crops were affected,” Rana Tanveer said.

The planned relief measures aim to provide immediate financial respite to flood victims while supporting farmers who face significant agricultural losses.