Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has ordered emergency measures for drinking water and fodder in Tharparkar, where the Tharparkar drought has left all seven talukas (sub-districts) facing drought-like conditions. The order followed a meeting at CM House on Saturday, November 7, where officials briefed him on the situation. The Sindh government has also decided to declare the district calamity-hit, although accounts of the decision use slightly different wording, as explained below.
What the chief minister ordered
Murad Ali Shah directed Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah to act immediately. He ordered that all non-functional RO plants, which purify water for drinking, be repaired and restored on a priority basis. Officials were also told to identify faults in existing water sources and make them fully functional, so that communities have uninterrupted access to drinking water.
The chief minister asked the Chief Secretary to examine whether a dedicated water pipeline could be laid from Naukot to Mithi. He said the aim was a sustainable and reliable supply for the people of Mithi, and that a long-term solution to the area's water shortage should be developed. No completion dates for the repairs or the pipeline study have been announced.
Rainfall, crop losses and livestock
The briefing said approximately 85 to 90 per cent of cultivated crops had either been destroyed or rendered unproductive. The Agriculture Extension Department put crop losses at around 90 per cent, and field reports from local revenue officers found that only 10 to 15 per cent of crops had survived. Put simply, the briefing's figures mean that roughly 10 to 15 out of every 100 units of expected crop survived.
Rainfall in the 2026 monsoon season was unevenly distributed. Seasonal totals ranged between 181 and 273 millimetres across the seven talukas, but September rainfall was very low, at 1 to 36 millimetres. As a result, crops and natural grass dried out before they could mature.
The chief minister said inadequate and poorly distributed rainfall had hurt agriculture, livestock and livelihoods. He stressed that livestock, a major source of income in the desert district, needed urgent protection, and he ordered urgent arrangements to address the shortage of fodder. He also sought recommendations on measures to reduce the drought's impact on animals.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- September 2026: Rainfall across Tharparkar's seven talukas ranged from 1 to 36 millimetres, and crops and grass dried before maturing.
- 2026 monsoon season: Seasonal rainfall ranged between 181 and 273 millimetres across the seven talukas, unevenly distributed.
- Saturday, November 7, 2026: A meeting at CM House reviewed the drought briefing, and the chief minister ordered emergency measures for water, fodder and livestock.
Relief, monitoring and what comes next
Murad Ali Shah directed the administration to monitor relief activities closely and ensure that no affected community is left without essential support. He said the Sindh government would not leave the affected people of Tharparkar alone and would provide every possible assistance. Departments were told to coordinate their efforts so that relief reaches affected areas without delay.
Accounts of the meeting differ on the exact status. One describes Tharparkar as a drought-affected district, while another describes a decision to officially declare it calamity-hit. Both accounts agree on the emergency orders for water, fodder and livestock.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Sindh ke Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah ne Tharparkar mein khushk sali ki wajah se pani aur janwaron ke chare ki farahmi ke liye hangami iqdamat ka hukm diya hai. Saaton talukas mein barish kam hui aur zyadatar fasal barbaad ho chuki hai. Kharab RO plants theek karne aur pani ke zaraye bahal karne ka hukm diya gaya hai. Is ilaqe ke logon ke liye iska matlab hai ke pani aur chare ki dastyabi behtar hone ki umeed hai, lekin kaam ki mukammal tafseel abhi wazeh nahi.
