Key Points
- Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issues drought advisory (pre-alert) for western and southwestern Balochistan through its National Drought Monitoring & Early Warning Centre (NDMC).
- Rainfall deficit and rising consecutive dry days heighten the risk of worsening drought conditions.
- Districts under pre-alert include Chagai, Gwadar, Kech, Kharan, Mastung, Nushki, Pishin, Panjgur, Killa Abdullah, Quetta, and Washuk.
- Authorities advised to pre-position fodder, water, veterinary teams, and issue community-level water-use advisories.
ISLAMABAD: Parts of Balochistan are facing intensifying drought conditions due to persistent rainfall deficits, reflecting the hard-hitting climate change in Pakistan, endangering agriculture, livestock, and livelihoods.
The National Drought Monitoring and Early Warning Centre (NDMC of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a drought advisory (pre-alert) for western and southwestern Balochistan, warning that persistent rainfall deficits and extended dry spells could exacerbate drought conditions in the coming months.
According to the advisory, rainfall deficits across the affected regions have intensified from May to November 2025. The number of Consecutive Dry Days (CDD) has also increased, signalling a worsening water shortage situation. NDMC’s rainfall departure analysis and CDD patterns indicate that without intervention, these conditions are likely to impact agriculture, livestock, and rural livelihoods.
Forecast and Expected Impact
PMD’s seasonal forecast for December 2025 to February 2026 predicts below-normal rainfall accompanied by above-normal temperatures in the affected districts, which include Chagai, Gwadar, Kech, Kharan, Mastung, Nushki, Pishin, Panjgur, Killa Abdullah, Quetta, and Washuk. While a rainfall system is expected to affect parts of Balochistan later this month, providing partial relief, authorities caution that the drought risk remains high.
NDMC continues to monitor conditions closely and advises all relevant stakeholders — farmers, agricultural planners, local authorities, and institutions — to stay updated through PMD’s official channels.
Recommended Anticipatory Measures
The advisory outlines several key pre-emptive actions to mitigate the impact of drought:
Pre-position fodder, water tanks, and mobilise mobile health and veterinary teams.
Disseminate drought alerts through SMS, mosques, and community hubs, including guidance on judicious water use for agriculture and livestock.
Coordinate with NGOs and other stakeholders to provide targeted subsidies and contingency support for smallholder farmers.
Strengthen water storage facilities and promote efficient irrigation practices in hotspot union councils.
The advisory has been circulated to key government offices, including the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, the Ministry of Defence, the Chief Secretary, Balochistan, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, Balochistan, the Ministry of Climate Change & Water Resources, the National Food Security and Research authorities, and relevant media outlets.
Authorities stress that early action and preparedness are critical to minimise the socio-economic impact of drought and protect vulnerable communities in the affected districts.
