QUETTA: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and Geoscientists have urged for timely steps to avoid another human catastrophe as Balochistan is feared to fall prey to a Sindh like famine due to the prolonged dry spell.
According to Geoscientist Abdul Razaq Khilji situation in many districts would go beyond provincial government's control as the province was going to endure third biggest drought of its history,where 29 out of 32 districts are more or less affected by the lingering drought.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) citing situation had already suggested government for immediate steps to mitigate suffering of the families mainly living in the northern areas of the province.
The PDMA has also issued emergency warnings to all concerned departments to make necessary arrangements to cope with the situation arising out of natural phenomenon.
A survey by PDMA also shows that about 0.930 Million people and 5.645 million cattle were affected by slowly spreading drought where 1.1 million acres of land has been badly affected with the orchards on 1, 74515 acre of land.
Over 5 million cattle alone are affected by the drought in Noshki district, Deputy Director Livestock Department Mohammad Ismaeel Smalani informed.
As many as 26 districts of Balochistan were suffering from famine hitting the province since 1997 affecting more than 1.5 million people and killing some two million animals due to starvation. "I had 45 cattle and 145 goats but after one and a half year's long dry spell, 3 cattle and 7 goats survived," Manthaar Baloch, resident of Ghot Rehanzai of Kachi district's Union Council Jalal Khan informed.
The situation has coerced many of families living in the town to migrate to Dera Murad Jamali and Jaccobabad as water scheme inaugurated in previous regime went dysfunctional and residents have to go to nearest urban settlement to fetch edible water for their families and livestock.
"Large number of families living in Kachi, Zhob, Loralai and Noshki are leaving their native towns to escape famine like situation," Director General Provincial Disaster Management Authority Noor Mohammad Jogezai while referring recent survey report said.
Qilla Saifullah, Kalat, Mastung, Lasbella, Dera Bugti, Kohlu, Khuzdar, Zhob, Musa Khail, Barkhan, Shirani, Loralai and Kachi districts are worst hit by the drought.
Families reportedly from Khurasan area of Zhob, Jalal Khan and Muharam Union Council of Kachi district and Dak Anam Bostan and Kishkingi areas of Noshki started migrating to provincial capital and other places to manage living for families.
"Though, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, Chie Minister Balochistan had formed a Committee comprising Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti and Advisor on Livestock Obaidullah Babat to assess the losses yet the recommendations by the committee so far did not find the attention of the concerned," Home Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfarz Bugti member assessment committee said.
"Committee visited the affected areas and suggested immediate steps, however, the loss is too huge that provincial government alone could not tackle the situation, federal government would have to extend its help to the drought-hit people of Balochistan, Minister stressed.
Balochistan is a province where agriculture and livestock are sources of income for about 75 percent of the population.
Though, Balochistan government has earmarked Rs 1 billion for the welfare and compensation of the calamity hit people but more is required to be done to avoid any catastrophic situation that has engulfed Tharparker Sindh.
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