The relentless and lethal heatwave has now entered its third week, posing serious climate challenges to the country. According to the weather office, day temperatures are likely to remain 07-09°C above normal in Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir, urging the public to take precautionary measures to avoid the heatwave.
The met office also stated that temperatures were 06-08°C above normal in Sindh and Balochistan and that more heat is expected in the coming days.
The weather remained hot and dry in most parts of the country, while very hot in plain areas. However, rain occurred in Dir. Rainfall (mm): Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Dir (upper & lower) 01.
Jacobabad experienced a maximum extreme temperature of 48 °C, making it one of the world’s hottest cities. It’s worth noting that April in Pakistan was the hottest in 61 years.
Sibbi, Khairpur, and Dadu recorded temperatures of 47°C, while Mohenjodaro, Rohri, Larkana, Mithi, and Rahim Yar Khan recorded temperatures of 46°C.
Even birds are suffering from heatstroke, and bird and nature enthusiasts advised people to keep water in pots and place them on their rooftops so that birds can drink in the scorching heat.
It should be noted that Pakistan is an agriculture-based economy with the majority of labor performed outside.
The heatwave is also affecting the wheat harvest season, with millions of farmers taking the unusual step of working during dangerous weather conditions that would endanger their health, rather than foregoing their livelihoods.
While urban areas are more likely to suffer from extreme heat than rural areas, this is because cities heat up faster than other areas because asphalt, concrete, glass, and steel absorb sunlight, and rural areas have more green areas surrounding them.
