DAIRA DIN PANAH, Pakistan, (Reuters) – After wrecking  Pakistan’s northwest, the worst floods in 80 years swept through  the economically vital Punjab in a catastrophe that has raised  doubts about President Asif Ali Zardari’s fragile leadership.

Zardari went ahead with state visits to Europe this week,  drawing criticism for his absence during the worst of the  destruction.

Ethnic violence in Pakistan’s biggest city Karachi, and a  suicide bombing claimed by Taliban militants in Peshawar also  piled pressure on his government, widely criticised for its  handling of the floods, which have killed over 1,500 people and  devastated the lives of more than three million.

It’s too early to gauge the economic costs of the floods but  they are likely to be staggering. Pakistan depends heavily on  foreign aid and its civilian governments have a poor history of  managing crises, leaving the powerful military to step in.

After $10 million in initial aid, the United States on  Wednesday pledged a major effort to help millions hit by the  epic floods in Pakistan, while also hoping to improve  Washington’s image there.      Anti-American sentiment runs high in Pakistan, a regional  power Washington says is critical to easing a Taliban insurgency  in Afghanistan, before a U.S. troop pullout starts next summer.      Floods struck several of Punjab’s districts and were moving  downstream yesterday, rescue and relief officials said. “This is an unprecedented flood to hit the area, and we have  so far evacuated 132,000 people and shifted them to safe areas,”  Major General Nadir Zeb, overseeing relief efforts in the  southern Punjab, told Reuters.

The Punjab Relief and Crisis Management Department (RCMD)  said 1,343 villages were affected and more than 25,000 houses  destroyed. At least 16 people have been killed in the province.