The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued a drought alert on Monday for Sindh, Balochistan, and Punjab, citing scarce rainfall.
This drought alert for Pakistan highlights ongoing dry conditions in Sindh, southern Balochistan, and the lower eastern plains of Punjab. While recent rains have benefited the central and upper regions, the southern areas continue to suffer. In March 2025, temperatures rose 2-3°C above normal, and some regions have remained dry for over 200 days.
Moderate drought conditions threaten Sindh’s Padidan, Tharparkar, and Karachi, while Balochistan’s Gwadar and Punjab’s Bahawalpur also face similar risks. The Pakistan Meteorological Department’s National Drought Monitoring and Early Warning Centre (NDMC) actively monitors the situation.
Read: Pakistan’s Mangla Dam Hits Dead Level, Halts Power Production
Flash droughts characterized by rapid dry spells due to low rainfall and high temperatures could exacerbate the crisis shortly. Rainfall from September 2024 to March 21, 2025, has decreased by 40% below the average, with Sindh experiencing the most severe impact at 62%.
Pakistan Drought Alert Signals Water Woes
Tarbela and Mangla dams have dead storage levels of 1,402 feet and 1,061.75 feet, respectively, reducing river flow. Last week, temperatures rose by 1 to 7 degrees Celsius above normal, drying the soil and straining crops.
The National Drought Management Center (NDMC) is warning of rising water demand. Dry weather is expected to continue through March 30, although rain may occur in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and northern Balochistan on March 26. This drought alert for Pakistan calls for urgent action.
