Pakistan is prone to various disasters. Drought is one of the most serious hazards frequently occurring in Pakistan. Over the recent years, drought has become increasingly rampant in some parts of the country with substantial consequences upon the sustainable development in sectors of food security, livestock, agriculture, water resources, environment and hydro-electricity.
Low rainfall and high temperatures are the major causes of drought. Some parts of the country are more affected than the others. According to the National Disaster Management Authority, the average annual precipitation in Balochistan and Sindh provinces is about 160 mm as compared to 400 mm in Punjab Province and about 630 mm in NWFP Province.
Drought has exerted a negative impact on the sustainable development of arid regions causing the water table to deplete gradually. The deficiency of the necessary quantities of water results in water shortages for livelihood activities of the local communities as well as to their environment.
Statistics reveal that approximately 60 percent of the total land area of the country is classified as arid based on the fact that the annual average rainfall received is less than 200 mm in the respective regions. The official sources indicate that drought has affected badly the economic growth of the country during the period of 1997- 2002, leading to the following consequences;
Rise in food prices in the affected areas
A very low level of food in-take causing different diseases and malnutrition to the affected populations
Fodder shortage affecting livestock-rearing, which plays an important role in the rural economy.
Migration of people from drought affected areas
Heavy cost incurred by government in relief works in the affected areas
Increased Health Hazards like malnutrition, tuberculoses and Hepatitis especially among women and children.
The livestock perished in large numbers in the severely affected areas.
To address the problem of the scarcity of water in the arid and semi arid areas, Qatar Charity has launched a project to provide water in some of the severely and moderately affected districts of Balochistan and Sindh. This project has been initiated in the beginning of 2009 and so far four tube wells (boreholes) have been drilled in the past few months to meet the drinking and irrigation needs of the targeted communities.
The project will continue over the next four years aiming to achieve the following objectives:
Provide water to the needy communities on a larger scale,
Provide clean drinking water to the local communities in sufficient quantities on regular basis,
Help communities initiate farming and agricultural activities,
Reduce the risk of waterborne diseases among the targeted communities.
Qatar Charity is in a special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations since 1997. In Pakistan, QC is registered with the Economic Affairs Division, Ministry of Economic Affairs & Statistics
