The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a drought alert for Sindh, warning that the province has recorded 62% below-average rainfall between September 1, 2024, and March 21, 2025.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the Met Office has cautioned that if rainfall does not occur within the next one to two months, the drought could intensify.
The Met Office stated that winter rainfall has remained significantly below average, leading to dangerously low water levels in Tarbela and Mangla dams.
Severe water shortage grips Pakistan
As per the report, rivers across the country are also experiencing critically low water flows.
According to WAPDA officials, the Indus River’s inflow stands at 16,300 cusecs, while the outflow is at 15,900 cusecs, highlighting the worsening water crisis.
Drought Monitoring Centre's report
On March 21, the PMD’s Drought Monitoring Centre raised further alarms over an impending flash drought, with conditions expected to deteriorate in Sindh, Balochistan, and parts of Punjab. The drought intensity is projected to rise, posing grave risks to agriculture, water security, and daily life.
In Sindh, moderate drought conditions are likely to impact Padidan, Shaheed Benazirabad, Dadu, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, and Karachi. Meanwhile, Ghotki, Jacobabad, Larkana, Sukkur, Khairpur, and Sanghar are expected to experience milder drought conditions.
Balochistan is also at risk, with Gwadar, Kech, Lasbela, Panjgur, and Awaran facing moderate drought, while Chagai, Jafarabad, Jhal Magsi, Sibi, Noshki, and Washuk are projected to face mild drought conditions.
Similarly, in Punjab, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, and Rahim Yar Khan are likely to experience mild drought.
Alarming rising temperatures
Pakistan has received 40% below-normal rainfall during the September 2024 to March 2025 period. Sindh has witnessed the worst shortfall (62%), followed by Balochistan (52%), and Punjab (38%).
The crisis has been exacerbated by rising temperatures, with the southern regions of Pakistan experiencing 2-3°C above-normal temperatures in March 2025.
Urgent need for water conservation
Experts are warning that Pakistan must urgently implement water conservation measures and drought mitigation strategies to prevent a full-scale crisis.
If immediate action is not taken, the country could face severe food security challenges and a major water accessibility crisis in the coming months.
Reporter: Rimsha Ismail