Islamabad, January 22, 2025 – The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a critical alert, warning of escalating drought conditions in several regions of the country. This warning follows the continuation of the Drought Advisory-I, which was issued on December 9, 2024, as recent rainfall has failed to significantly impact plain areas, thereby worsening the prevailing drought situation.
According to the PMD, Pakistan has experienced a substantial rainfall deficit of 40% from September 1, 2024, to January 15, 2025. The most affected regions include Sindh, with a staggering 52% deficit, Balochistan with 45%, and Punjab with 42%. These anomalies have triggered mild drought-like conditions in various parts of the country, particularly in rain-fed regions.
In Punjab, areas such as the Potohar region (Attock, Chakwal, Rawalpindi/Islamabad), Bhakkar, Layyah, Multan, Rajanpur, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Khushab, Mianwali, and Dera Ghazi Khan are experiencing mild drought conditions. Similarly, Sindh’s Ghotki, Jacobabad, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad, Dadu, Padidan, Sukkur, Khairpur, Tharparkar, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, and Karachi are also affected. In Balochistan, drought conditions are evident in areas such as Ormara, Kharan, Turbat, Kech, Panjgur, Awaran, Lasbella, Nokkundi, Dalbandin, and nearby regions.
The PMD has forecasted that these conditions are likely to worsen due to the absence of significant rainfall in the second half of the season (January-March 2025). Moreover, anticipated above-normal temperatures may exacerbate the situation, potentially intensifying mild drought conditions into moderate drought, particularly in rain-fed areas.
The National Drought Monitoring & Early Warning Centre (NDMC), under the PMD, is vigilantly tracking meteorological patterns across the country. The PMD has also cautioned that the ongoing rainfall deficit, coupled with rising temperatures in the coming months, increases the likelihood of flash droughts in affected regions.
To mitigate the impending crisis, the PMD has advised stakeholders to implement pre-emptive measures in drought-prone areas. Farmers and agriculturists are particularly encouraged to stay informed through the PMD’s website to adopt appropriate strategies for water and crop management.
The PMD’s warnings underscore the urgency for immediate action to address the looming drought crisis and safeguard livelihoods dependent on agricultural and water resources. Continuous monitoring and proactive measures will be crucial to mitigating the impact of these challenging climatic conditions.