By: Matiullah Mati
Naqeebullah, a resident of Killi Arambi Massazai in Qilla Abdullah district, Balochistan, stands in his orchard where around 250 pomegranate trees have withered away. His once-thriving orchard is now a living example of the growing impact of climate change in the region.
He explains that his orchard used to be irrigated through the traditional Karez system — a centuries-old underground water channel — but due to a lack of rainfall, the Karez water level has drastically dropped. “The water we now get from the Karez is not enough to sustain the crops,” says Naqeebullah.
According to a World Bank report on groundwater management and Karez rehabilitation in Balochistan, the province’s Karez system is centuries old and has long served as a natural buffer against prolonged droughts. In the 1970s, there were around 3,000 functioning Karezes in Balochistan; today, only about 1,000 remain.
The 29-year-old Naqeebullah, who has been involved in farming since childhood, says that the severe water shortage has made life unbearable. “My father was a farmer, and I have spent my life in agriculture. If the Karez system isn’t restored or alternative water sources aren’t developed, I’ll be forced to find another livelihood,” he laments.
Experts says that Balochistan is among the regions most rapidly affected by climate change. A sharp decline in rainfall, rising temperatures, and loss of soil moisture have severely damaged agriculture.
According to the Groundwater Management and Karez Rehabilitation Report, the Karez system once transformed the agricultural landscape of Balochistan’s upland regions, improving local livelihoods and socio-economic conditions. However, recurring droughts since the 1960s have significantly reduced groundwater recharge — the natural process that replenishes Karez aquifers — while demand for water has simultaneously increased.
To sustain their livelihoods, farmers began installing tube wells, supported by energy subsidies from the provincial government. The report states that while there were approximately 5,000 tubewells in the 1970s, the number has now exceeded 40,000. This rapid increase has led to a dangerous depletion of groundwater, with levels in some areas dropping by more than five meters (16 feet) per year. This sharp decline has devastated many Karezes, drying them up completely.
Dr. Dost Muhammad Baloch, a researcher at the University of Balochistan, describes climate change as a borderless threat, emphasizing the need for climate diplomacy, ecotourism, and green skill development. He argues that transforming Balochistan’s vulnerabilities into opportunities for sustainable growth requires a strong integration of policy, technology, and community action. The agricultural sector, he adds, deserves the most urgent attention.
Experts believe that with immediate action in water management, modern agricultural practices, and climate adaptation projects, the situation can still improve. “Balochistan’s farmers are hardworking. If the government provides them with facilities, training, and resources, they can withstand the impacts of climate change,” says Dr. Baloch.
According to Balochistan’s Provincial Minister for Agriculture, Mir Ali Hassan Zehri, agriculture remains the backbone of the economy, contributing 24 percent to Pakistan’s GDP. Though Balochistan’s share in the sector is small, he says, “with better strategy, modern technology, and research-based initiatives, an agricultural revolution can strengthen the province’s economy.”
He added that long-term and sustainable agricultural projects are being developed to uplift Balochistan’s farming sector. “Following the guidance and efforts of the President of Pakistan, I am committed to working with full dedication for the agricultural development and prosperity of Balochistan,” he stated.
The World Bank report further emphasizes that protecting and improving the Karez system is essential to ensure water security for the poor communities of Balochistan. Practical steps include:
Identifying Karez recharge zones
Enhancing natural groundwater recharge through watershed management and aquifer restoration techniques
Banning tubewell installations within recharge zones
These measures, the report concludes, would not only help preserve Balochistan’s natural and cultural heritage but also secure sustainable water resources for the province’s rural and impoverished populations.
