ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Meteorological Department (PMD) this week forecast rain in the country’s upper parts from June 4-7, saying that rainfall is likely to subside heat wave conditions across the South Asian nation. 

Pakistan has been in the grip of a severe heat wave that has affected other parts of South Asia since last week. Temperatures in southern parts of the country, notably Jacobabad in Sindh, crossed 50 degrees Celsius as health experts and doctors urged people to stay infoors and drink plenty of water and juices to stay hydrated. 

Increased exposure to heat, and more heat waves, have been identified as one of the key impacts of climate change in Pakistan, with people experiencing extreme heat and seeing some of the highest temperatures in the world in recent years. The South Asian country of more than 241 million, one of the ten most vulnerable nations to climate change impacts, has also recently witnessed untimely downpours, flash floods and droughts.

“Met office informed that a shallow westerly wave is likely to enter upper and central parts of the country on Tuesday (evening/night) and may persist during next 03 days,” the PMD said in a statement on June 3. “Heat wave conditions are likely to subside in the country during the forecast period.”
The Met Office said rainfall is expected in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Kasur, Okara, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Khushab, Sargodha and Mianwali from June 4-6 with occasional gaps.
In the southwestern Balochistan, it forecast thunderstorms with isolated rain in Quetta, Zhob, Ziarat, Sherani, Kohlu, Musakhel, Dera Bugti and Barkhan from June 5-7 with occasional gaps. In Sindh, dust storms accompanied by isolated rain-thunderstorms are expected in Sukkur, Jacobabad, Kashmore and Larkana on June 6-7, the Met Office said. 

In Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, rainfall is expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Haripur, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner, Malakand, Kohat, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Peshawar, Mardan and Kurram from June 4-8.

The Met Office said rain and thunderstorms were expected in Gilgit-Baltistan including Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar, and parts of Kashmir from June 4-8. 

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s National Institute of Health (NIH) issued an advisory for health authorities about the prevention and timely control of cholera, given the increase in temperatures. According to the advisory, cholera is caused by an infection in the intestines. 

“Pakistan is also vulnerable to cholera outbreaks, and cases of this disease are reported from various parts of the country,” the NIH said, adding that cholera cases may rise during the hot and rainy seasons from May to November.

The NIH said poor sanitation and lack of drinking water contributed to the spread of cholera in different parts of the country.