By Peter Hoskins
Business reporter
Pakistan's planning minister says early estimates show the devastating floods that hit the country have caused at least $10bn (£8.5bn) of damage.
His comment comes as another government minister said that one-third of the South Asian nation has been submerged.
Separately on Monday, Pakistan received a $1.1bn bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
That money is aimed to help the cash-strapped economy avoid defaulting on its debts.
The flash floods, caused by record monsoon rains, have killed at least 1,136 people and affected more than 33 million, over 15% of the country's population.
The torrential rains have also washed away roads, crops, homes, bridges and other infrastructure.
"I think it is going to be huge. So far, [a] very early, preliminary estimate is that it is big, it is higher than $10 billion," Pakistan's planning minister Ahsan Iqbal told the Reuters news agency.
Mr Iqbal said the country would face serious food shortages in the coming weeks and months and believed that the floods were worse than those that hit Pakistan in 2010, the deadliest in the country's history which left more than 2,000 people dead.
He also called on richer countries to help Pakistan financially as he said it was a victim of climate change, which had been caused by the "irresponsible development of the developed world".
To address food shortages, finance minister Miftah Ismail said Pakistan could consider importing vegetables from arch-rival India.
On Monday, the country's climate change minister Sherry Rehman described the situation as a "climate-induced humanitarian disaster of epic proportions."
"Literally, one-third of Pakistan is underwater right now, which has exceeded every boundary, every norm we've seen in the past," Ms Rehman told the AFP news agency.
Even before the floods Pakistan was suffering from an economic crisis and had been negotiating with the IMF over a bailout.
Official figures released in recent weeks showed that the country had only enough foreign currencies in reserve for about a month of imports as its economy struggles with an annual inflation rate of almost 25%.
In a statement on the $1.1bn bailout, IMF deputy managing director Antoinette Sayeh said: "Pakistan's economy has been buffeted by adverse external conditions, due to spillovers from the war in Ukraine, and domestic challenges, including from accommodative policies that resulted in uneven and unbalanced growth."
The floods were not mentioned in the statement.
Many factors contribute to flooding, but a warming atmosphere caused by climate change makes extreme rainfall more likely.
The world has already warmed by about 1.2C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to emissions.
This video can not be played
Watch: Hundreds of people have been rescued from flooding in Pakistan
Are you affected by issues covered in this story? Do you have family or friends in the region? Please get in touch by emailing: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.
One-third of Pakistan is under water – minister
Pakistan flood victims throw note pleading for help
Flood-hit Pakistan braces for worse to come
Sri Lanka crisis is a warning to other Asian nations
Pakistan floods are monsoon on steroids – UN
Ukraine says it has broken Russian lines in Kherson
Solomon Islands halts all foreign naval visits
Why tribal families in India are living on a highway
Two Pinocchios? The strange Hollywood trend of twin films
UK looks to Sweden for a solution to nuclear waste
The designers giving Kenya a fashionable name
How I forgave myself for the death of my friend
Pakistan flood victims throw note pleading for help
The sudden silencing of Guantanamo's artists
Britain's disputed 'in between' isles
Deals behind Britain's Gulf handover revealed
Why Dijon mustard disappeared from France
Ten of the world's most ingenious buildings
A pizza topping that divides the world
© 2022 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.

source