Extreme heat leaves 50 livestock animals dead

Water scarcity and dehydration are affecting locals

BAHAWALPUR:

Over 50 sheep, goats and cows died in Cholistan following an intense drought in the region. The drought occurred amid an ongoing nationwide heat wave.

Livestock and wildlife in the area are being threatened by the severe weather conditions and lack of rainfall.

"Cholistan has human population of over 200,000 and a cattle population of over 1.2 million, besides tens of thousands of wildlife species," said Riaz Baloch, a Cholistani farmer, adding that the desert region had been experiencing the worst condition of drought due to a lack of adequate rain.

Reports state that thousands of people and their cattle have been forced to migrate from Cholistan to other areas, due to water scarcity.

The local divisional and district managements of the provincial government have already started initiatives to address water scarcity in the Cholistan desert area.

"Chief Minister Punjab Hamza Shahbaz himself took notice of the drought like situation in Cholistan and directed the use of all available resources to supply water to Cholistan," said Commissioner Bahawalpur division, Capt. (retd) Zafar Iqbal.

These remarks were made at a meeting of senior officials at his office to review water scarcity situation of Cholistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 13^th, 2022.