QUETTA: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority has been urged to initiate immediate preparedness measures after Balochistan recorded a severe 41.9% deficit in rainfall over the last three months, triggering a pre-drought alert across eleven districts.
Data from the Meteorological Department reveals the province received a mere 8.6 mm of rain from September to November, starkly below the normal 14.8 mm. Compounding the crisis, average temperatures were 0.9°C higher than usual during this period. The advisory highlights that western and southwestern regions have experienced a sustained decline in precipitation since May 2025, coupled with an increase in consecutive dry days.
Forecasts paint a concerning picture for the winter, predicting below-normal rainfall and above-average temperatures from December 2025 to February 2026. This pattern threatens to intensify drought conditions in Quetta, Chagai, Gwadar, Kech, Kharan, Mastung, Nushki, Pishin, Panjgur, Qila Abdullah, and Washuk.
Officials have recommended a series of proactive steps, including the advance arrangement of fodder and water tankers, deployment of mobile health and veterinary teams, and the establishment of public alert systems via SMS and mosque announcements. They also advised coordinating with NGOs to provide subsidies to small-scale farmers and promoting water conservation technologies.
A glimmer of hope lies in a predicted weather system later this month, expected to bring some rainfall to parts of the province, which may offer partial relief and slightly mitigate the drought’s severity.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti stated on Monday that the security situation in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is influenced by regional and geographical factors, calling the conflict a “shared responsibility” of all state institutions, including the judiciary and security agencies.
Speaking at a press conference alongside MNA Jamal Raisani, Bugti announced that approximately 100 militants had surrendered to the government in Dera Bugti. He described the move as a positive step, noting that the same individuals had taken up arms in 2018–19 but had now been “embraced” upon their return. Bugti reiterated that the state’s amnesty offer remains open to those willing to lay down weapons.
