The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a drought alert for Sindh, Balochistan, and Punjab due to significantly below-average rainfall. Between September 1, 2024, and March 21, 2025, the country experienced a 40% reduction in rainfall, with Sindh and Balochistan facing deficits of 62% and 52%, respectively.
In Sindh, areas such as Padidan, Shaheed Benazirabad, Dadu, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Khairpur, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, and Karachi are expected to experience moderate drought conditions. Similarly, Gwadar, Kech, Lasbela, Panjgur, and Awaran in Balochistan, and the southern regions of Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, and Rahim Yar Khan in Punjab are also likely to be affected.
The PMD warns that the current weather patterns and seasonal outlook may exacerbate the drought situation in these areas. Flash droughts, which develop rapidly due to changes in temperature, precipitation, wind, and radiation, are also anticipated in the coming months.
Authorities and residents in the affected regions are advised to take precautionary measures to mitigate the impact of the drought.
