KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has decided to declare Tharparkar a disaster-hit district and directed authorities to take immediate measures to address the worsening drought situation.
During a briefing, officials informed the chief minister that drought-like conditions had affected all seven talukas of Tharparkar, with 85 to 90 percent of crops either destroyed or rendered unproductive.
According to the Agriculture Extension Department, approximately 90 percent of crops in the district have suffered damage.
Murad Ali Shah directed the authorities to ensure the uninterrupted supply of drinking water to the people of Tharparkar. He ordered the immediate repair and restoration of non-functional reverse osmosis (RO) plants and called for the revival of all existing water supply sources.
The chief minister also directed the chief secretary to assess the feasibility of laying a water supply pipeline from Naukot to Mithi.
He stressed the need for long-term planning to ensure water supply to Mithi and sought recommendations on measures to protect livestock from the effects of drought.
Murad Ali Shah assured the affected population that the Sindh government would not abandon them and would provide all possible assistance.
The briefing further revealed that rainfall across all seven talukas of Tharparkar remained between one and 36 millimetres in September 2026.
Officials said uneven rainfall had caused crops and natural grass to dry up before reaching maturity, worsening the drought conditions in the district.