This study analyzes the drought coping strategies and decision making processes of households and communities in response to a long and severe drought that prevailed from 1997 to 2004 in Nushki District, Pakistan. The relevant information was gathered through a review of the available literature, analysis of government documents, relief agencies- reports and newspaper articles. The analysis suggest that households adopted similar patterns of drought coping relating to food acquisition, income generation activities, extension of credit and management of productive and non-productive assets in Nushki District as in other drought affected areas. However, the coping strategies relating to security of access to drinking water were a major pre-occupation of households owing to the scarcity of water in Nushki District and these constitute a departure from the pattern of coping strategies reported elsewhere in the literature. The study concludes by offering a critique of government's drought policy for its failure to address the issues of livelihood security. It recommends that the Government of Pakistan should adopt a long-term approach focussed on rehabilitation and recovery of livelihoods for mitigating the effects of drought and make significant changes in its water supply, agricultural and livestock development policies to reduce the vulnerability of households to the effects of drought.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references.