A dangerous decline in rivers’ water levels has set off alarms across Pakistan, with rapidly depleting water reservoirs and worsening drought conditions in Sindh, Balochistan and South Punjab.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned that if urgent measures are not taken, the coming months could bring even more severe challenges.

According to PMD’s latest advisory, the country recorded 40% below-average rainfall between September 1, 2024, and March 21, 2025, leading to a critical drop in water reserves.

The data reveals a 62% rainfall deficit in Sindh, 52% in Balochistan, and 38% in Punjab, severely impacting agriculture and urban water supplies.

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Several districts are already in the grip of severe drought, including Dadu, Tharparkar, Thatta, Karachi, Badin, Hyderabad, Umerkot, Ghotki, Jacobabad, Larkana, and Sanghar in Sindh.

In Balochistan, Gwadar, Kech, Lasbela, Panjgur, Awaran, and Chagai are facing extreme water shortages. In Punjab, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, and Rahim Yar Khan are also struggling with dwindling water supplies.

Adding to the crisis, water storage levels in the Tarbela and Mangla dams have reached dangerously low levels, while rivers’ flows have dropped significantly, further exacerbating the situation.

Experts warn that a continued lack of rainfall and rising temperatures in the coming months could make the crisis even more severe.