PLANNING FOR DROUGHT: TOWARDS THE REDUCTION OF SOCIAL VULNERABILITY IN THE HANNA‐URAK VALLEY, QUETTA, BALOCHISTAN

This paper attempts to find out the weaknesses in the existing drought hazard reduction policies in the Hanna‐ Urak valley, Quetta, Balochistan. The study area was amongst the severely drought effected part of Pakistan during 1997 to 2002. Drought is invariably related to a deficiency in rainfall, which is by no mean a permanent feature. The essence of the concept is not dryness in itself, but the effect of rainfall deficiency on nature and society. The study area is located 21 Km north‐east of Quetta city. For detailed and intensive study, out of sixteen, seven sample villages were selected by random means. The study attempts to identify the root causes of drought hazard and its impact on the socio‐economic and physical environment of the study area. Besides this, the study also focuses to evaluate the existing drought hazard reduction programmes and suggest policy recommendations for ensuring safety of human lives and properties. The paper is divided into eight sections. Section one of the paper gives detailed introduction of the drought hazard. Section two deals with the methodology adopted for this research work. Section three describes the concept and definition of drought hazard, whereas section four and five discusses the drought hazard at global and Pakistan level, respectively. Section six evaluates the drought hazard reduction programmes in the study area. Section seven is given to findings and policy recommendations, whereas the paper is concluded in the final section.