According to a recent report published in Dawn, “20 out of 33 districts in Balochistan are drought-stricken, affecting around 109,000 families” Climate change brings disasters: floods, droughts, heat waves, super storms and wildfires Balochistan is predominantly agriculture-based. Its livestock-dependent economy has been affected by drought, and due to climate change, its problems are increasing alarmingly. However, the government has yet to take strong measures for the agriculture sector to tackle climate change. According to a recent report published in Dawn, “20 out of 33 districts in Balochistan are drought-stricken, affecting around 109,000 families.” Due to climate change, temperature is increasing, global warming is causing water exhausting from the seam and moisture of air is reducing. Most of the regions of Balochistan are affected by climate change. Consequently, in May 2017, Turbat had the highest temperature ever recorded in Pakistan at 53.5 °C (128.3 °F), and in 2019, the city had the same temperature affecting the region terribly. Turbat is not the only place where residents are confronting many challenges, including climate change; it is the story of the most of the neglected areas of the province. The major reason of the increase in the temperature is deforestation; in cities, locals are chopping down trees on a daily basis. Deforestation by humans is causing the necessary functions to be lessened, damaging the atmosphere even more. The masses are unaware about the inimical effects of deforestation, which is the biggest cause of climate change in the province. After heavy rainfalls of April 26, 2019, in the Makran region, water level reached the dead zone where due to no rainfall for three-four years people had suffered terribly, especially farmers and shepherds. The drought was in effect for the last couple of years; farmers had stopped farming, and shepherds kept their number of animals low, which put lives of poor people at stake. The construction of the Meerani Dam, the largest dam in the district Kech, is very beneficial for the people of Dasht and its surroundings. Some farmers have migrated from other regions to Dasht, Kech, to benefit from the lands of Dasht and water from the Meerani Dam to farm. Unfortunately, there is not a single bund in the nearby places of Turbat to be useful for the local people when they receive rainwater. Turbat, along with its nearby villages, hardly ever get any benefit of rain, as there is no availability of bund to store the rainwater. Due to climate change, temperature is increasing, global warming is causing water exhausting from the seam and moisture of air is reducing. Most of the regions of Balochistan are affected by climate change On September 13, 2018, Sami Pervez launched an online campaign for building a bund wall on the Kech River. A bund wall can help to store water for a short duration, which would be useful to scrub the mud, and stop wood, roots, sticks, or any waste material flowing into the dam. In addition, it would make the dam water cleaner and protect it from mud and any other waste material. Storage of water can also help increase the water level in wells, which is beneficial for atmosphere as well as animals and birds that drink water from there. A bund wall in the Kech River can help store water that flows from the neighbouring regions of Turbat, especially Buelda, Zamuran and Hoshap, which can’t reach the dam due to the small quantity of water. The Ankara Kaur Dam in Gwadar is a good example why a bund wall is important at the Kech River. The Ankara Kaur Dam was built without a single bund wall in the river; as a result, it was submerged in mud and waste materials. Mahjbeen Sheran was also requested to discuss the issue of climate change of Makran in the Balochistan Assembly and request for funds to build more dams. She said, “Darwan Dam, Thank Dam, Neelag Dasht Dam and Sorap Dam are in the pipeline.” If that happens, it would be a positive measure to solve the issue of climate change in the region. Salman, a volunteer of the ‘Let’s Green Turbat’ initiative, said that they have been successful in adding more than 4,000 plants in different parts of Turbat. Their main aim is to bring awareness in the region about planting trees and its importance. They have visited many schools within the city mainstreaming the same purpose. He added, “We have been motivating young people to start planting in their surroundings; through that campaign, the city would get a lot of fresh air along with a pleasant environment.” Drought has changed the environment, as for a long time the Makran division has not received much rainfall; because of the unavailability of water forests are caught in drought. Forests are home of millions of species, which protect the soil from erosion, produce oxygen, store carbon dioxide, and help in controlling climate. Forests provide us food and shelter along with purifying the air we breathe and water that we need to survive. Forests are important for life as they change the climate. Sami Pervez, a journalist based in Canada, says, “Everyone should play their role individually to save the planet by not wasting water and food. Secondly, we should not use plastic bags; when we go for shopping, try to take reusable bags. Also, avoid using single-use plastics such as plates, cups and cutlery.” He added, “Every citizen should walk, bike or take public transportation to school or work places. Since vehicles produce carbon dioxide, which is very dangerous for the ozone, it is our duty to play our vital role to save the planet for our future generation.” Efforts by the concerned authorities are yet to be seen, but climate change is a reality. Climate change brings disasters: floods, droughts, heat waves, super storms and wildfires. The province has suffered many disasters due to climate change: federal and provincial governments should take positive measures to bring awareness about climate change. Citizens should also actively participate in plantation campaigns. The members of the Balochistan Assembly should discuss the climate change issue in parliament. Citizens should also play their role for the development of the province. Building dams would be a great step to mitigate the climate change effects. The writer is a Turbat-based writer and an award-winning journalist