**PMD Issues Drought Alert as Rainfall Drops by Up to 62%**
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The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a drought alert for several regions, including Sindh, Balochistan, and Punjab, as rainfall across the country has plummeted by as much as 62%.
While recent rains brought some relief to central and northern areas, drought conditions are predicted to continue in Sindh, southern Balochistan, and the lower eastern plains of Punjab.
The PMD reports that temperatures in the lower half of Pakistan were 2-3 degrees Celsius above normal this month. Some southern areas have experienced over 200 consecutive dry days, exacerbating the drought.
**Affected Areas**
Here’s a breakdown of the expected drought conditions by region:
* **Sindh:** Moderate drought is expected in Padidan, Shaheed Benazirabad, Dadu, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Khairpur, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, and Karachi. Mild drought is forecast for Ghotki, Jacobabad, Larkana, Sukkur, Khairpur, and Sanghar.
* **Balochistan:** Moderate drought conditions are anticipated in Gwadar, Kech, Lasbela, Panjgur, and Awaran. Mild drought is expected in Chagai, Jaffarabad, Jhal Magsi, Sibbi, Nushki, and Washuk.
* **Punjab:** Southern areas, including Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, and Rahim Yar Khan, are likely to experience the most significant impact.
The PMD’s National Drought Monitoring & Early Warning Centre (NDMC) is actively monitoring the situation. There’s also a risk of flash droughts in the coming months. These droughts develop quickly due to changes in temperature, precipitation, wind, and radiation, and are further fueled by the current rainfall shortage and rising temperatures.
Overall rainfall from September 1, 2024, to March 21, 2025, was 40% below normal. The rainfall deficits across various regions are as follows: Sindh (-62%), Balochistan (-52%), Punjab (-38%), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (-35%), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (-29%), and Gilgit-Baltistan (-2%).