Islamabad, March 25: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a drought alert for Sindh, Balochistan, and Punjab due to a significant shortage of rainfall, exacerbating drought conditions in these areas.
Key Points from the Drought Alert:
Drought Conditions:
The drought conditions are expected to persist in Sindh, southern parts of Balochistan, and the lower eastern plain areas of Punjab.
While central and upper parts of the country have benefited from recent rainfall spells, the affected areas in the southern and eastern regions continue to suffer from a lack of precipitation.
Temperature Anomaly:
The average temperature in the lower half of the country during March 2025 has been 2-3 degrees Celsius above normal, which is likely to worsen drought conditions in the affected areas.
Read More: Islamabad, Rawalpindi Finally Get Rain After Months of Drought
Affected Regions:
Sindh:
A moderate drought is expected in areas such as Padidan, Shaheed Benazirabad, Dadu, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Khairpur, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, and Karachi. A mild drought is anticipated in Ghotki, Jacobabad, Larkana, Sukkur, Khairpur, and Sanghar.
Balochistan:
Moderate drought conditions are expected in Gwadar, Kech, Lasbela, Panjgur, and Awaran, while a mild drought is expected in Chagai, Jaffarabad, Jhal Magsi, Sibbi, Nushki, and Washuk.
Punjab:
The affected areas in Punjab will include Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, and Rahim Yar Khan.
Rainfall Deficit:
Overall rainfall from September 1, 2024, to March 21, 2025, was 40% below normal across the country.
The rainfall deficit in the affected regions includes Sindh (-62%), Balochistan (-52%), Punjab (-38%), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (-35%), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (-29%), and Gilgit-Baltistan (-2%).
Water Shortage:
There is a significant water shortage in major reservoirs, including Tarbela and Mangla dams. Both dams are at critical levels, with Tarbela at 1,402 feet and Mangla at 1,061.75 feet—both near dead levels.
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The water flow in rivers is also at very low levels, intensifying the water crisis.
Flash Drought Concerns:
Flash droughts, which intensify rapidly due to changes in precipitation, temperature, and other environmental factors, are anticipated in the coming months, worsening the drought conditions further.
Impact on Agriculture:
The increase in temperature is expected to reduce soil moisture levels, increasing water demand for crops and putting additional pressure on the already strained water resources.
Weather Forecast:
The PMD forecasts dry weather in most parts of the country from March 24 to 30, with isolated rain, windstorms, thunderstorms, and hailstorms expected in certain areas like lower Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, upper and southern Punjab, and north Balochistan on March 26.
There are also expectations of rain, wind/thunderstorms, and snowfall in higher elevations of upper KP, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, and northern Balochistan.
Also Read: Pakistan Faces Drought Amid 40% Rainfall Drop
This drought warning highlights the critical need for water conservation and immediate action to manage water resources more effectively to mitigate the effects of this ongoing crisis.
