Pakistan Faces Worsening Drought as Rainfall Drops by 62%

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a drought alert for Sindh, Balochistan, and Punjab, warning of worsening conditions as the country’s rainfall has declined by up to 62%.

Although recent rain spells have eased drought conditions in central and northern regions, Sindh, southern Balochistan, and the lower eastern plains of Punjab remain at risk. The PMD reported that temperatures in the southern half of the country were 2-3 degrees Celsius above normal this month. Some southern areas have endured over 200 consecutive dry days, further intensifying the drought.

Regions Affected

Sindh: Moderate drought conditions are expected in Padidan, Shaheed Benazirabad, Dadu, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Khairpur, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, and Karachi, while Ghotki, Jacobabad, Larkana, Sukkur, Khairpur, and Sanghar face mild conditions.

Balochistan: Gwadar, Kech, Lasbela, Panjgur, and Awaran are likely to experience moderate drought, with Chagai, Jaffarabad, Jhal Magsi, Sibbi, Nushki, and Washuk facing mild conditions.

Punjab: The drought is expected to impact southern areas, particularly Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, and Rahim Yar Khan.

The PMD’s National Drought Monitoring & Early Warning Centre (NDMC) is closely tracking the situation, warning that flash droughts could develop in the coming months due to rising temperatures and continued rainfall shortages.

From September 1, 2024, to March 21, 2025, the country recorded a 40% decline in overall rainfall. The deficits by region are: Sindh (-62%), Balochistan (-52%), Punjab (-38%), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (-35%), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (-29%), and Gilgit-Baltistan (-2%).