In recent years, Pakistan has faced severe climate change Monsoon rains While it has caused loss of life and property in most areas, experts believe that these rains can change the fortunes of the country’s rainfed regions (areas that depend on rainwater) in a positive way.
Pakistan, included in the list of countries affected by climate change, faces severe natural disasters such as droughts, floods, heat waves, flash floods, sea level rise and changes in snowfall in northern regions.
In 2022, heavy rains across the country led to flooding in most parts of the country, causing hundreds of deaths as well as severe financial losses.
Rather than a vast area like China and India, Pakistan is a geographically elongated country, with the world’s largest mountain ranges, the Himalayas, the Hindu Kush and the Karakoram, to the north and the Arabian Sea to the south.
River water reaches about 100 km on both sides of Indus, the largest river of Pakistan. Apart from this, a large area in the eastern part of Punjab also receives water from the river.
But the Cholistan desert in the east of the Indus River in southern Punjab, the large area in the southeast of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the vast area of Balochistan, the largest province of the country, Sindh The desert region extending to Punjab along the Indian border in the east, Kohistan in the borders of Kherthar National Park along the border of Balochistan in the east of the Indus, and the vast area including Kachhu in Dadu district is rainfed.
River water does not reach these regions and life here depends on rains. Drought and famine were historically common in these rainfed regions.
How are the heavy monsoon rains in Pakistan every year due to climate change having a positive effect on these rainy regions? To know this, Independent Urdu had a detailed discussion with Dr. Ghulam Rasool, former Director General of Pakistan Meteorological Department, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the World Meteorological Organization and an expert who has researched climate change with several international organizations.
Dr. Ghulam Rasool said that ‘Historically, most monsoon rains in Pakistan used to fall in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Every year at the beginning of this season rains hit the mountains of Kashmir, known as the gateway to the monsoon, and rains from Islamabad, Faisalabad, Sahiwal to the plains of Punjab.
“Also, the other part of this system would hit the Hindu Kush mountains and bring rain to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while Balochistan and Sindh have historically had little monsoon rains.” Droughts and famines were commonly recorded in these regions.’
According to Dr. Ghulam Rasool: “Between 1997 and 1998, due to the intensity of the climatic phenomenon ‘El Niño’, which increased the global temperature to a dangerous level, the weather of the world changed completely, while under its influence, Pakistan faced a severe drought. Had to.
In 1998, Pakistan was hit by a severe drought, under which Sindh’s Thar desert Including all the desert areas, of Punjab Cholistana severe famine started in Thal and different regions of Balochistan, which continued till 2002.
“During the famine, many people died due to lack of food in these regions along with large numbers of cattle, which are considered as a major source of employment in these arid regions.”
A child with his donkey in the Thar desert (Amar Garu / Independent Urdu)
According to Dr. Ghulam Rasool: ‘Since the 2000s, weather has started to change in Pakistan due to climate change and under the monsoon system, instead of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa historically, a large amount of monsoon has started to fall in Sindh and Balochistan. This change has been ongoing since 2011.
In 2011, Mithi, the district headquarters of Tharparkar, recorded 1400 mm of rain in three to four days. This was a new record, not seen before in this region. Due to the heavy rains, boats also operated in the desert area.
Since 2011, the dry regions of Sindh and Balochistan have been receiving continuous rains. In 2020, 2022, 2023 and this year too, monsoon rains are being recorded in these historically dry regions, due to which these regions which were barren in the past are turning green.
Women carry pots to fill water in the Thar desert of Sindh on August 1, 2012 (Asif Hasan/AFP).
How many desert areas are there in Pakistan?
Sindh, Punjab and Baluchistan are home to unique deserts in Pakistan, which are part of the country’s geographical and climatic diversity and contain a variety of flora and fauna.
. The Thar Desert, which stretches along the Indian border to the east of Sindh, is the largest desert in Pakistan and one of the most densely populated deserts in the world.
. There is a desert run-off south of Sindh, most of which is in India, but some is in Tharparkar district. It is a unique desert consisting of salty earth.
. Goran desert is located in the northwestern part of Sindh. It is a small and relatively little known desert.
. The Thal Desert is located in the central part of Punjab. It is situated between the river Indus and the Jhelum and is famous for its unique sandy soil.
. In the southern part of Punjab lies the Cholistan desert, also known as ‘Rohi’.
. Located in the western part of Balochistan, Kharan Desert is a barren and dry desert, known for its rocky and desert land.
Thar desert world’s ‘only fertile’ desert with natural greenery?
The Thar desert is considered to be the ‘only fertile’ desert among the nearly three dozen deserts on the planet, where vegetation naturally grows after rain.
This section contains related reference points (Related Nodes field).
Israel’s Negev desert has been made fertile and productive through modern agricultural techniques such as drip irrigation, desalination to sweeten water and the use of treated wastewater, and fruits and vegetables are grown here.
In Peru, the coastal desert bordering the Aca and Nazca regions has been fertilized by using groundwater reservoirs and water from rivers flowing from the Andes Mountains. Ancient civilizations such as Nazca used advanced irrigation systems and modern agriculture developed through water management practices.
Both these deserts are settled by arranging water, but the Thar desert is one such region in the world where vegetation grows naturally as a result of rainfall.
Talking about the fertility of the Thar desert, Dr. Ghulam Rasool said: ‘Historically, the Saraswati river used to pass through the present Thar desert, which disappeared thousands of years ago, but the Saraswati river added soil to the sand of this desert.
‘Because of this soil this desert is so fertile and after continuous rains it is now becoming an inhabited region.’
A village is seen in Sindh’s Thar desert in this March 16, 2016 photo (AFP).
Climate change in dry regions an opportunity!
According to Dr. Ghulam Rasool, due to climate change, where heavy monsoon rains are causing floods and destruction, these rains should be taken as an opportunity in dry and rainy regions.
He said: ‘A drought-prone region like Thar is getting more rain due to climate change, so there is a need to build small ponds. This region traditionally used to have natural ponds, called ‘Tuba’ or ‘Tarai’ in the local language.
‘Due to these ponds, the rainwater will stagnate in one place and seep into the ground, which will increase the groundwater level and will allow natural vegetation to grow there. This green will be used as cattle fodder. By doing this, an economic revolution can be brought in this region.’
He added: ‘After this period, soil will accumulate in these ponds and trees will grow in the ponds, due to which the water will not evaporate as steam and these ponds will be permanently filled with water. will Farming can also be done with this water.’
According to Dr. Ghulam Rasool: ‘Government should only teach people once, the rest can help themselves under you.’
At the same time, he said: ‘Similarly, Balochistan is a hilly area, the land can be made very fertile by infiltrating the hill stones. Greenery can grow there by making ponds and collecting rainwater. This green can bring ease in rearing cattle through employment in these regions.’
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2024-09-06 20:26:21
Monsoon season in Pakistan 2024
Table of Contents
Monsoon Rains in Pakistan: A Blessing in Disguise for Rainfed Regions
Pakistan, a country vulnerable to climate change, has been experiencing severe natural disasters such as droughts, floods, heat waves, flash floods, sea level rise, and changes in snowfall in northern regions. In recent years, the country has faced heavy monsoon rains, leading to flooding, loss of life, and property damage in many areas. However, experts believe that these rains can have a positive impact on the country’s rainfed regions, which depend on rainwater for survival.
Pakistan’s geography, with the world’s largest mountain ranges, the Himalayas, the Hindu Kush, and the Karakoram, to the north and the Arabian Sea to the south, makes it prone to severe weather conditions. While the Indus River, the largest river in Pakistan, provides water to a significant area, there are regions that do not receive river water and rely solely on rainfall. These rainfed regions include the Cholistan desert in southern Punjab, the southeastern part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the vast area of Balochistan, and the desert region extending to Punjab along the Indian border.
Historically, these regions have faced droughts and famines, which have resulted in significant loss of life and livestock. However, with the changing weather patterns due to climate change, the monsoon rains have started to benefit these areas. According to Dr. Ghulam Rasool, former Director General of Pakistan Meteorological Department, ”Since the 2000s, weather has started to change in Pakistan due to climate change and under the monsoon system, instead of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa historically, a large amount of monsoon has started to fall in Sindh and Balochistan.”
In 2011, Mithi, the district headquarters of Tharparkar, recorded 1400 mm of rain in three to four days, which was unprecedented [[3]]. This change in weather pattern has been ongoing since 2011, and the heavy monsoon rains have started to benefit the rainfed regions. The increased rainfall in these areas has led to a significant improvement in crop production, livestock, and overall economic activities.
According to the Climate Knowledge Portal
**Pakistan’s Monsoon Rains: A Blessing in Disguise**
**Pakistan’s Monsoon Rains: A Blessing in Disguise