Drought conditions to prevail in Balochistan

Sindh also likely to be affected by moderate drought

ISLAMABAD:

Due to low rainfall in winter, drought conditions are likely to prevail in the districts of Central and South Balochistan while moderate drought is expected in south-eastern parts of Sindh, said an advisory issued by Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) in an advisory issued on Tuesday.

The caveat came keeping in view that moderate drought is likely to occur in different areas of Balochistan such as Chaghi, Gwadar, Harnai, Ketch, Kharan, Mastung, Noshki, Panjgur, Kalat, Quetta, and Washik.

Similarly a mild drought is also expected in the south-eastern parts of Sindh.

The drought may affect agriculture and livestock in the affected districts and farmers may also face water shortage for Rabi crop in certain areas.

According to the advisory, Balochistan received 73.2 percent less normal rainfall, Sindh 72.2 percent, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) 12.9 percent.

However, Punjab received 9.8 percent more rainfall than usual, while Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) also received 4.3 per cent more rainfall than usual.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 24^th, 2021.