The Sindh government has decided to declare Tharparkar a calamity-hit district as drought-like conditions have severely damaged crops across the region.
The decision was made at a meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, who directed the relevant authorities to take immediate steps to address the crisis.
During the meeting, officials informed the CM that all seven talukas of Tharparkar were experiencing drought-like conditions, with an estimated 85% to 90% of crops destroyed or rendered unproductive.
The Agriculture Extension Department estimated crop losses at around 90%, attributing the damage to irregular rainfall that caused crops and natural grass to dry out before reaching maturity.
Officials further reported that rainfall across the district’s seven talukas in September 2026 ranged from just one millimetre to 36 millimetres.
Directing immediate relief measures, CM Murad ordered the authorities to ensure an uninterrupted supply of drinking water to residents and expedite the repair and restoration of non-functional reverse osmosis (RO) plants. He also instructed officials to restore all existing water supply sources without delay.
The CM directed the chief secretary to assess the feasibility of laying a water pipeline from Naukot to Mithi and develop a long-term strategy to address the district’s water needs. He also sought recommendations for supporting livestock affected by the drought and instructed the authorities to maintain continuous oversight of relief operations in the affected areas.
Reaffirming the commitment, CM said the government would stand by the people of Tharparkar and extend all possible assistance to those affected by the drought.
