The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a drought alert for Sindh, Balochistan, and Punjab provinces due to significantly low rainfall. The alert, issued on Monday, warns of persistent drought conditions in these regions, despite recent rainfall improving conditions in central and northern Pakistan.

The PMD cites a mean March temperature 2-3 degrees Celsius above normal in the southern half of the country, with some areas experiencing over 200 consecutive dry days. The current weather patterns and seasonal outlook are expected to worsen the drought situation.

Specific areas facing moderate drought conditions include Padidan, Shaheed Benazirabad, Dadu, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Khairpur, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, and Karachi in Sindh; and Gwadar, Kech, Lasbela, Panjgur, and Awaran in Balochistan. Mild drought conditions are anticipated in other districts within Sindh and Balochistan, as well as Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, and Rahim Yar Khan in Punjab.

The PMD’s National Drought Monitoring & Early Warning Centre (NDMC) is actively monitoring the situation. The possibility of flash droughts, intensifying rapidly due to factors like low precipitation and rising temperatures, is also a concern for the coming months.

Overall rainfall from September 1, 2024, to March 21, 2025, was 40 percent below normal, with Sindh experiencing the most severe deficit (-62 %).

Water levels in Tarbela and Mangla dams are critically low, further exacerbating the situation. The NDMC reports that temperatures from March 15-21 were 1-7 degrees above average, leading to decreased soil moisture and increased water demand, negatively impacting crops. Dry weather is forecast for most of the country from March 24-30, with some exceptions in the north.