Islamabad: The level of water in the main dams has increased from the threshold critically low due to the increase in the inputs of the merger of the glaciers and the rain in March.
Mangla and Tarbela, two of Pakistan’s largest deposits, almost ran out of water in recent weeks, which caused fears of acute water shortage for domestic and agricultural use.
According to a report from the Pakistan Meteorology Department (PMD), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, North Punjab, most of Baluchistan, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan received light to heavy rains in March.
Tickets increased the water level in the Mangla dam on the Jhelum River of 1,066.25 feet on March 23 to 1,086.70 feet on April 4, as shown in WAPDA data.
Similarly, the water level in the Tarbela dam increased from the dead level of 1,402 feet to 1410 feet.
Mangla and Tarbela at the dead level; PMD says that drought is still a threat
However, the PMD warned that the average temperatures were expected to remain above normal throughout the country during April.
The April forecast said that a rain is anticipated slightly below the normal one in northern Punjab, Kashmir and adjacent areas of northern KP.
In contrast, the southern regions are expected to experience normal rain, with a reduced negative anomaly according to the weather patterns of the region.
The PMD report said that average temperatures are expected to remain above normal throughout the country, with maximum cakemira, GB and KP of the north temperatures.
The April forecast predicted normal rain in the southern regions prone to drought.
“This expected precipitation should improve soil moisture in areas such as the coast of Baluchistan, the Thar desert in Sindh and the Cholistan region in Punjab,” PMD said, and added that the minor to moderate drought conditions already present in Sindh and coastal Baluchist can intensify whether the rains remain deficient, the precautions of the metal office.
The Meteorology Department advised all those interested to save water to mitigate the adverse impacts of drought.
Around the dry days, the PMD said that the number of consecutive dry days has increased from 200 to 237 days in Tobat, Pasni, Lasbela and Sindh.
However, substantial rain has completed the consecutive dry days in the central and northern regions of the country.
The soil moisture condition has improved due to recent rainfall in Punjab, and this will increase the main crops such as wheat, sugar cane, sesame, grams and legumes, mainly thriving in their irrigated plains.
Sindh has reported satisfactory growth and harvest processes for its primary crops, including wheat, sugar cane, seasonal vegetables and orchards.
Culture conditions generally remain good, backed by appropriate management practices.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, all crops standing, such as wheat and sugarcane are progressing well, with a continuous harvest and satisfactory garden conditions.
Baluchistan maintained healthy and wheat growth, orchards and vegetables, with seasonal fruits produced and efficiently marketed.
However, persistent dry conditions in some areas have caused moisture stress, negatively affecting crop development.
Last month, Baluchistan’s coastal belt, southern and western Sindh, and Southeast Punjab had faced mild to moderate drought, attributed to moisture stress and rainfall below average in the last three months.
The PMD has advised the farmers that normal rain is expected to be a little below the normal rain in most agricultural plains during April.
To achieve good performance, it is necessary to control weeds in the crop, which not only reduces performance but also has other negative impacts.
Farmers have been advised to apply herbicides to destroy these weeds, refraining from strengthening for strong winds and following the Council of the Agricultural Department.
With the wheat harvest now mature in Punjab and Sindh, farmers have been advised to schedule the harvest according to the latest weather forecasts.
Posted in Dawn, April 6, 2025
