Sindh declares Tharparkar disaster-hit amid severe drought

Sindh government to declare Tharparkar disaster-hit district amid severe drought

The Sindh government has decided to declare Tharparkar a disaster-hit district following a severe drought that has devastated crops across the region. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has directed the relevant departments to take immediate measures to address the worsening situation and provide relief to affected residents.

During a briefing, the chief minister was informed that drought-like conditions had affected all seven tehsils of Tharparkar. Around 85 to 90 per cent of crops across the district have either been destroyed or become unproductive due to inadequate and uneven rainfall.

According to the Agriculture Extension Department, approximately 90 per cent of crops have suffered damage, raising concerns about the livelihoods of farmers and the availability of fodder for livestock.

Murad Ali Shah directed the authorities to ensure an uninterrupted supply of drinking water to people in the affected areas. He also ordered the immediate repair and restoration of non-functional reverse osmosis (RO) plants to ensure access to clean drinking water.

The chief minister further instructed officials to restore all existing water supply sources without delay. He directed the chief secretary to assess the feasibility of laying a water supply pipeline from Naukot to Mithi to provide a sustainable solution to the district’s water shortages.

He also called for long-term planning to ensure a reliable water supply from Naukot to Mithi. The relevant authorities were asked to prepare recommendations on measures to protect livestock and provide relief to animals affected by the drought.

The chief minister assured residents that the provincial government would not abandon them during the crisis. He pledged that the Sindh government would extend all possible assistance to drought-affected communities.

The briefing also revealed that Tharparkar’s seven tehsils received only 1 to 36 millimetres of rainfall in September 2026. Uneven rainfall patterns caused crops and natural grass to dry up before reaching maturity, further worsening the drought and creating serious challenges for agriculture and livestock in the district.