ABSTRACT
The chapter discusses drought management planning resources for water suppliers in the drought-affected areas of Pakistan, particularly in Sind, lower Punjab, and Balochistan. Due to its geographical extent, the intensity of rainfall in Pakistan is variable at different parts and seasons. Some areas of the country, in each season, remain drastically dry and are vulnerable to drought. If subsequent seasons also fail to generate significant precipitation, the drought conditions are then sure to take the regions in grip. Such conditions are often seen affecting the country, specifically the southern half of the country. The southern latitudes of Pakistan receive precipitation less than 10 in. and have remained dry for centuries. Each year, a partial drought prevails over the areas, which changes into severe drought every 5 years. The population of the arid regions is under stress for water resources and needs proper water resources management to save the flora and fauna in the area.
In view of the fact that the country mostly consists of arid, semiarid, and even hyperarid regions, the susceptibility of different regions to become drought-stricken is always very high. Drought is a natural event and the risk associated with drought is a product of both the region’s exposure and the vulnerability of society to the event. For its management and prevention of water resources, we need to explore the drought-vulnerable areas, causes, short-term and long-term adaptation strategies to cope with the problem, and how to promote the existing water supply methods for the provision of water resources in the area.
An attempt is made to cover these aspects in this chapter, which would help promote further investigations in the drought management planning resources for water suppliers in the context of historical as well as modern strategies in the arid regions of Pakistan.
