By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Meteorological Department warned on Thursday that a moderate to severe heatwave will grip much of the country from May 25 through May 31, just as millions prepare to celebrate Eid al-Adha on May 27 and take advantage of a three-day government holiday.
The forecast comes as a high-pressure system is expected to build in the upper atmosphere beginning May 25 and strengthen the following day, pushing temperatures 4 to 7 degrees Celsius above normal across large swaths of the country. In some districts, the mercury could climb as high as 47 to 50 degrees Celsius (116.6 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit), officials said.
The timing is particularly unwelcome. The federal government has declared public holidays from May 26 to 28 to mark Eid al-Adha, when families traditionally gather, travel to rural areas and perform the ritual sacrifice of livestock. Health authorities and the meteorological service urged citizens to scale back outdoor activities, especially during the peak heat hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The most intense conditions are expected in southern and central regions. The Pakistan Meteorological Department listed dozens of districts where maximum temperatures could reach 47 to 50 degrees Celsius and remain 4 to 6 degrees above normal. They include Sukkur, Shikarpur, Qambar Shahdadkot, Jacobabad, Larkana, Mohenjo Daro, Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad, Tharparkar, Badin, Sujawal, Thatta, Hyderabad, Matiyari, Tando Muhammad Khan, Umerkot, Ghotki, Khairpur, Naushahro Feroze, Mirpurkhas, Jamshoro, Sanghar, Sibbi, Turbat, Panjgur, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Karak, Lakki Marwat, Waziristan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Khanewal, Pakpattan, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Bhakkar, Layyah, Kot Addu, Sargodha, Joharabad, Khushab, Mianwali, Noor Pur Thal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh and Sahiwal.
In the northern plains and parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, highs are likely to range between 42 and 45 degrees Celsius, or 5 to 7 degrees above normal. Affected areas include Peshawar, Swabi, Nowshera, Mardan, Kohat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Lahore, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Okara, Kasur, Faisalabad, Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Kotli and Bhimber.
Even cooler highland regions will not escape the heat. In Malakand, the Hazara Division, Gilgit-Baltistan and districts such as Bagh, Rawalakot, Neelum Valley, Haveli and Sudhanoti, temperatures are forecast to hover between 38 and 40 degrees Celsius, still 5 to 7 degrees above normal.
Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, is expected to see “very hot” conditions with daytime highs of 35 to 38 degrees Celsius. Nighttime temperatures nationwide are also projected to remain elevated, offering little relief after sunset.
The department’s advisory singled out vulnerable groups — children, women and the elderly — and called on them to avoid unnecessary exposure to direct sunlight and to stay well hydrated. Farmers were told to adjust crop schedules and pay special attention to livestock. The public was also asked to use water and electricity sparingly, as demand is expected to surge. “All concerned authorities are advised to remain vigilant and take necessary measures to avoid any untoward situation during the forecast period,” the meteorological department said.
The warning carries extra weight after an early-May heat spike. On May 4, at least 10 people died in Karachi when temperatures hit 44.1 degrees Celsius — the highest reading in the city since 2018 — compounded by hot, dusty continental winds. Pakistan has experienced more frequent and intense heatwaves in recent years, part of a broader pattern linked to climate change.
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