Large swathes of the country are grappling with persistent drought and soaring temperatures, as most regions received below-average rainfall during the second week of April, according to the latest bulletin issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s National Drought Monitoring Centre (NDMC).

The report highlights that from April 8 to 14, light to moderate rain was recorded in upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, northern Punjab, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. However, much of Sindh, Balochistan, and central and South Punjab remained dry, exacerbating existing drought conditions. Localised rainfall anomalies were observed in Lahore, Jhelum, and Abbottabad, where precipitation exceeded historical norms.

The NDMC noted that drought conditions persist in South Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan due to the continued lack of significant precipitation. Authorities have urged the implementation of conservation measures to mitigate the growing water stress.

Temperatures across the country were recorded one to six degrees Celsius above the long-term average for this time of year. These elevated temperatures are expected to accelerate evapotranspiration rates, reduce soil moisture, and increase demand for irrigation and domestic water use—heightening pressure on already limited water resources.

Surface soil moisture data, derived from NASA’s GRACE-FO satellite and covering the first week of April, show widespread dryness throughout Pakistan. Exceptions include select areas along the Indus River in Sindh, where conditions remain comparatively wetter. The report warns that depleted soil moisture could negatively impact crop development, leading to premature ripening and reduced yields.