国际英语新闻：Pakistani president: Floods affect 1 mln hectare cultivated land

Zardari called upon the country's banking and finance sector to use their influence in the areas of their operations and actively participate in the flood relief and rehabilitation efforts by sensitizing the people and state agencies to the colossal damage and the ways to recover the lost ground.

"While we hope that the worst floods were caused by freak weather and will not recur, we should also keep in mind that it may have been caused by climatic change and have to brace ourselves for such disasters in the future as well," he said.

The president said that the banks should provide necessary financial services to farmers and small business to help them restore their businesses and urged them restore to play a role in the revival of economic activities in the devastated areas, according to presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar.