ISLAMABAD: The disaster management authority in Pakistan’s largest province of Punjab on Tuesday ordered that temporary sheds and health centers be set up and water supply ensured at livestock markets as part of precautionary measures during an ongoing heatwave ahead of the Eid Al-Adha festival.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued a warning that most plain areas of the country will remain under the influence of a severe heatwave from May 20-24, with maximum daytime temperatures in the Sindh, southern Punjab, and Balochistan provinces expected to remain 4°C to 6°C above normal.
Despite the heatwave, people are thronging to livestock markets to buy sacrificial animals, with Eid Al-Adha less than three weeks away.
Muslims observe Eid Al-Adha, expected to fall in the first week of June this year, by slaughtering animals such as sheep, cows and goats, with the meat shared among family and friends, and a portion donated to the poor.
“Water supply should be ensured for animals in the markets,” the Provincial Disaster Management Authority Punjab said in a statement, highlighting that the heatwave was likely to continue into June.
“Establishment of temporary sheds and veterinary health centers should also be ensured at the markets.”
The government also ordered installing water sprinklers and mist fans, and said mobile medical teams and the Rescue 1122 service would also be deployed to provide medical assistance to traders and staff at markets.
Banners with information about heatwaves and safety tips should be displayed at the entrances and exits of livestock markets while loudspeakers should be used to inform visitors to stay hydrated, use shaded areas and report any emergencies immediately, the government handout said.
Pakistan ranks among the top ten countries most vulnerable to climate change and has grappled in recent years with increasingly frequent extreme weather events like deadly heat waves and floods.
In June 2024, almost 700 people died in a heat wave in less than a week, with most deaths recorded in the port city of Karachi, according to the Edhi Foundation charity. A 2015 heatwave claimed over 2,000 lives in Karachi alone while floods in 2022 left more than 1,700 dead and over 33 million displaced nationwide.
