The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a drought alert for Sindh, Balochistan, and Punjab as rainfall across the country has dropped by up to 62 percent, according to ARY News.
While recent rainfall has helped ease drought conditions in central and northern regions, dry conditions are expected to persist in Sindh, southern Balochistan, and the lower eastern plains of Punjab.
The PMD reported that the average temperature in the southern half of the country this month is 2-3 degrees Celsius higher than usual. Some areas in the south have experienced more than 200 consecutive dry days, exacerbating the drought.
Affected Areas:
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Sindh: Moderate drought is expected in Padidan, Shaheed Benazirabad, Dadu, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Khairpur, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, and Karachi, while mild drought conditions are predicted for Ghotki, Jacobabad, Larkana, Sukkur, Khairpur, and Sanghar.
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Balochistan: Moderate drought conditions are anticipated in Gwadar, Kech, Lasbela, Panjgur, and Awaran, with mild drought conditions expected in Chagai, Jaffarabad, Jhal Magsi, Sibbi, Nushki, and Washuk.
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Punjab: The southern areas, particularly Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, and Rahim Yar Khan, are likely to be the most affected.
The PMD’s National Drought Monitoring & Early Warning Centre (NDMC) is actively monitoring the situation. Flash droughts, which develop quickly due to changes in temperature, precipitation, wind, and radiation, are expected in the coming months due to the ongoing rainfall deficit and rising temperatures.
Overall, rainfall from September 1, 2024, to March 21, 2025, was 40% below normal. The rainfall deficits are as follows: Sindh (-62%), Balochistan (-52%), Punjab (-38%), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (-35%), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (-29%), and Gilgit-Baltistan (-2%).
