Peshawar – The recent floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have caused catastrophic damage to the province’s livestock sector, with official estimates placing losses at more than Rs1.57 billion.
A preliminary report issued by the provincial Livestock Department confirms that thousands of cattle, poultry, and shelters were destroyed, leaving farmers struggling to recover.
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According to the report, floods killed more than 5,328 animals and 10,000 poultry birds across seven districts. The losses include 1,091 goats, 1,628 calves, 1,089 cows, 822 buffaloes, and 544 sheep, swept away in rising waters.
Officials said the worst-hit district was Buner, where 748 goats, 703 buffaloes, and 875 cows perished. In Swat, floods claimed 218 goats, 71 buffaloes, and 112 cows, while Shangla reported 116 goats, 38 buffaloes, and 63 cows. Other districts also suffered: Bajaur lost 58 goats and 30 cows, Batagram recorded 29 goats, Lower Dir lost 16 goats, and Mansehra counted six goats among its losses.
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The floods also devastated poultry farms. Buner alone lost 9,000 chickens, while Swat and Bajaur together recorded the deaths of 4,435 domestic birds. In total, over 10,000 chickens died, compounding the blow to rural households that depend on poultry for daily income.
The department’s assessment revealed that 336 livestock shelters in Mansehra, Shangla, Buner, and Swat sustained damage, exposing animals to harsh conditions. In addition, over Rs286 million worth of animal fodder was destroyed, raising fears of further hardships for surviving herds.
Officials stressed that these findings represent initial figures, with final assessments likely to show even greater damage. They acknowledged that the floods disrupted livelihoods across farming communities, where livestock often serves as the main source of food security and income.
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The provincial Livestock Department said it had forwarded the data to relevant authorities for review, and that rehabilitation plans would depend on resources allocated by the government.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa floods livestock losses highlight the vulnerability of rural economies to climate disasters. Experts have long warned that unchecked deforestation, fragile infrastructure, and weak disaster preparedness continue to magnify the impact of extreme weather across Pakistan.
