Pakistan flood damage estimated at $ 9.7 bn

BRUSSELS: The floods that swept Pakistan since July caused about 9.7 billion dollars in damage to infrastructure, farms, homes and other losses, the World Bank and Asian Development Bank said Thursday.

The estimate was released by the two banks ahead of a key meeting in Brussels on Friday aimed at reviewing Pakistan's relief and recovery efforts.

The Friends of Democratic Pakistan meeting gathers 26 countries and institutions.

The estimated damage "is almost double the amount of damage caused by the 2005 Pakistan earthquake," said Rune Stroem, Asian Development Bank country director for Pakistan.