The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Monday issued a drought alert for Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab due to lower than average rainfall.
In its advisory, the PMD has said it expects drought conditions to persist in Sindh, southern parts of Balochistan and lower eastern plain areas of Punjab. This, it noted, was despite recent spells of rainfall reducing drought conditions in central and upper parts of the country.
According to the PMD, the mean temperature during March 2025 in the lower half of the country was 2-3 degrees Celsius above normal. It noted that some areas of the south had experienced more than 200 consecutive dry days. The prevailing weather and seasonal climate outlook are likely to intensify the drought situation, it warned.
In Sindh, the PMD has forecast moderate drought situation in Padidan, Shaheed Benazirabad, Dadu, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Khairpur, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin and Karachi, and mild drought conditions in Ghotki, Jacobabad, Larkana, Sukkur, Khairpur and Sanghar.
In Balochistan, moderate drought has been forecast for Gwadar, Kech, Lasbela, Panjgur and Awaran, and mild in Chagai, Jaffarabad, Jhal Magsi, Sibbi, Nushki and Washuk.
In Punjab, the affected areas will be Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan.
Amidst forecasts of sustained rainfall deficit and rising temperatures in the coming months, the PMD has also warned of the emergence of flash drought.
According to data provided by the PMD, Sindh saw the severest rain shortfall at 62%, followed by Balochistan at 52%; Punjab at 38% below normal; Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa at 35%; and Azad Jammu and Kashmir at 29% less rainfall than average. Overall, Pakistan recorded 40% less rain than usual from September 2024 through March 2025.
The PMD has also has warned of a severe water shortage in the Tarbela and Mangla dams if the conditions persist.