Pakistan faces an increasing risk of drought, following a significant reduction in rainfall across the country.
According to the Meteorological Department, rainfall has been 40% less than usual in the last four months, and varying degrees of shortages have been recorded in the provinces, Express News reported.
The period between September 1 and January 15 saw a 52% drop in Sindh, while Balochistan saw a 45% decline. In Punjab, the deficit was recorded at 42%.
This rainfall deficit is also likely to accelerate the summer season, with temperatures expected to rise in the coming days.
Mild drought conditions have already started emerging in several areas of Punjab, including Pothohar, Layyah, Bhakkar and Multan. These conditions are expected to worsen, particularly in areas that depend on rainfall.
Similar signs of drought have been observed in other regions including Rajanpur, Bahawalpur and Sargodha. Big cities like Karachi, Hyderabad and Badin in Sindh, as well as several cities in Balochistan, are also experiencing drought conditions in their early stages.
The Meteorological Department has warned that if the current trend of low rainfall continues, the situation could deteriorate further, exacerbating the risk of widespread droughts and heatwaves in the near future.
Additionally, Pakistan will experience cold and dry weather in most regions, with light rain and snowfall expected in certain northern areas.
According to the Meteorological Department, the weather will remain cold and dry in most parts of the country, with cloudiness in some places.
Regions like Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and northern parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) will see rain and snow in the coming days.
Light snowfall is expected in higher mountainous regions including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Kohistan, Mansehra, Battagram, Abbottabad and Waziristan.
In Punjab, the weather will remain cold and dry with no significant rainfall expected. Similarly, areas of Sindh are likely to experience cold and dry conditions.
In Balochistan, most districts will see cold weather with some cloudiness, with light rain and snow possible at higher altitudes, including Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Barkhan and Chagai.
Islamabad and its surrounding areas will experience cold weather, with a possibility of partly cloudy skies. The northern regions of the country, including Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, are expected to remain cloudy with intermittent rain and snowfall.
