Which statement describes drought in Pakistan?

• A. Drought has become frequent; the 1998-2002 drought was the worst in 50 years
• B. Droughts are rare in the country
• C. The monsoon reliably delivers rain every year
• D. Drought has no impact on agriculture

Answer: (A)

Drought is about a prolonged deficit in rainfall and the resulting stress on water supplies and farming. In Pakistan, rainfall and river flows are highly variable because agriculture relies on the monsoon and the Indus River system. The period 1998–2002 is widely cited as a severe drought, described as the worst in about fifty years, which led to water shortages, stressed reservoirs, and crop failures. This shows droughts have become more frequent and impactful, not rare, and that the monsoon does not guarantee rain every year. Droughts do affect agriculture because reduced rainfall and river flows cut irrigation water and crop yields. The other statements don’t fit: droughts aren’t rare, the monsoon isn’t flawless, and droughts do have agricultural impacts.