The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a warning about emerging drought conditions in the country due to insufficient rainfall. From September 1, 2024, to January 15, 2025, Pakistan experienced 40% less rainfall than normal. Sindh province was particularly affected, receiving 52% less rainfall. Despite recent rains, they were not enough to alleviate the drought in the plains.
In addition to Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab also faced significant rainfall shortages, with 45% and 42% less rainfall, respectively. Mild drought conditions have been observed in various regions:
Areas such as Attock, Chakwal, Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Bhakkar, Layyah, Multan, Rajanpur, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Khushab, Mianwali, and DG Khan are affected.
Ghotki, Jacobabad, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad, Dadu, Padidan, Sukkur, Khairpur, Tharparkar, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, and Karachi are experiencing drought-like conditions.
Ormara, Kharan, Turbat, Kech, Panjgur, Awaran, Lasbella, Nokkundi, Dalbandin, and nearby areas are also affected.
The PMD predicts that the drought conditions may worsen as no significant rainfall is expected in the rain-fed areas of Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan. The second half of the season, from January to March, is expected to be drier, with above-normal temperatures potentially turning mild drought conditions into moderate drought.
A drought is a long period of time when there is very little or no rain, causing water shortages and affecting crops and animals.
The Meteorological Department is a government agency that studies weather patterns and forecasts weather conditions like rain, storms, and droughts.
These are provinces or regions in Pakistan. Each has its own unique climate and geography, and they are important for agriculture and economy.
Rain-fed regions are areas that rely on rainfall for water, especially for growing crops, rather than using irrigation systems.
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