Pakistan is facing an alarming water crisis as rainfall levels have declined by 40%, breaking a 100-year record of water shortage in the Indus River, according to official data.
The Irrigation Department reported that the ongoing effects of climate change have severely disrupted the country’s weather patterns, resulting in a drastic fall in rain and, subsequently, water availability.
At Sukkur Barrage, one of the country’s major water control systems, water levels have dropped by 71%. The department also revealed that the combined water shortage at all three major barrages has surged to 65%.
Official figures show that during the first week of April last year, Sukkur Barrage recorded a 39% water shortage. This year, the figure has escalated sharply to 71%, highlighting the growing severity of the situation.
The overall water deficiency across the three barrages has also jumped from 37% in 2023 to 65% in 2024.
Experts warn that if rainfall remains below normal in the coming months, the shortage could further affect agriculture, drinking water supplies, and hydropower generation.
Authorities have called for urgent action to address the situation through better water management and long-term climate resilience planning.
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