The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued an alert on Wednesday regarding the emergence of drought conditions across the country following a prolonged period of scarce rainfall, as reported by Ary News.
According to the PMD, Pakistan experienced a significant rainfall deficit of 40% from September 1, 2024, to January 15, 2025. Sindh was the most affected, receiving 52% less rainfall during this period, while Balochistan and Punjab recorded 45% and 42% less rainfall, respectively. Despite a recent spell of rain, the precipitation was insufficient to alleviate the drought conditions, particularly in the plain regions of the country.
The PMD’s report indicated that mild drought-like conditions have emerged across various regions. In Punjab, affected areas include the Potohar region (Attock, Chakwal, Rawalpindi/Islamabad) as well as Bhakkar, Layyah, Multan, Rajanpur, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Khushab, Mianwali, and DG Khan districts.
In Sindh, drought conditions were reported in Ghotki, Jacobabad, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad, Dadu, Padidan, Sukkur, Khairpur, Tharparkar, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, and Karachi. Similarly, in Balochistan, areas such as Ormara, Kharan, Turbat, Kech, Panjgur, Awaran, Lasbella, Nokkundi, and Dalbandin are facing drought-like conditions.
The PMD warned that ongoing drought conditions are expected to worsen as significant rainfall is unlikely in the rain-fed areas of Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan. Furthermore, the Met department predicts that the second half of the season, from January to March, will be drier than the first half. Rising temperatures during this period are likely to exacerbate the situation, potentially turning mild drought conditions into moderate drought, particularly in rain-fed regions.