Cholistanis demand water from government
Local people in Cholistan have demanded of the government to release water into canals to ease the severe scarcity of water and the consequent drought the region has been facing for quite some time.
Talking to media persons, Rai Ghulam Nabi Parhar, Muhammad Sadiq Bhatti, and other locals claimed that water had not been released into the canals in the Cholistan desert area, creating a condition of water scarcity in an already dry and arid region.
"Water scarcity has caused problems and difficulties for tens of thousands of people living in a desert and has posed a threat to cattle and wildlife species," they said.
They added that the drought could be overcome in Cholistan if the authorities concerned took steps to release water into the canals to relieve the locals.
Cholistan has currently been undergoing a drought over the last several weeks, with a lack of rainfall and a nationwide heatwave threatening the security of locals and their livestock.
As per reports, over 50 livestock were reported dead during the last week due to dehydration and
extreme heat.
Most pastures have become uninhabitable due to the heat, forcing locals and their livestock to migrate. The government has responded by cracking down on water theft from canals while delivering supplies to the affected population.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 20th, 2022.