QUETTA: Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province, is grappling with severe climate-related challenges, with drought conditions worsening due to low rainfall and poor water management.
According to a recent report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the province’s arable land has shrunk to just 7.2 percent.
Agricultural experts warn that if the water scarcity issue is not addressed, it could lead to shortages of crops and force mass migration from affected areas. In the Hunna region, once-thriving orchards that produced high-quality apples have dried up, leaving farmers without income.
The groundwater level in Balochistan is falling by 3 to 4 feet annually, intensifying the drought, and about 75 percent of the rural population is severely affected.
Experts emphasize the urgent need for improved water management and sustainable agricultural practices to prevent further economic and humanitarian impacts.
