ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s southern Sindh province has issued a heatwave alert warning that temperatures could rise as high as 49 degrees Celsius (120.2°F) in several districts this week, as authorities urged residents to avoid prolonged sun exposure and prepare for extreme weather conditions.
The warning comes as large parts of Pakistan enter the peak pre-monsoon heat season, during which temperatures in Sindh regularly climb above 45°C (113°F). Cities such as Jacobabad, Dadu and Mohenjo Daro have repeatedly ranked among the hottest places on Earth during past heatwaves, with temperatures in Sindh reaching above 52°C (125.6°F) during extreme weather events in recent years.
A labourer covers his head with a scarf to avoid sunlight, while riding a donkey cart with supplies to deliver at a nearby market, during a hot summer day in Karachi, Pakistan May 5, 2026. (Reuters)
The Pakistan Meteorological Department and Sindh’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority said heatwave conditions were expected in central and upper Sindh from May 7 to May 11, with daytime temperatures forecast to reach 47–49°C (116.6–120.2°F) in Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad, Ghotki, Khairpur, Naushahro Feroze, Jacobabad, Larkana and Sukkur districts.
“Due to heatwave conditions in the province, general public especially children, women and senior citizens are advised to take precautionary measures,” the advisory said.
Authorities advised residents to avoid direct sunlight during daytime hours and remain hydrated, while farmers were urged to manage wheat harvesting activities carefully and protect livestock from extreme heat.
A newspaper hawker walks while covering his face with a newspaper to avoid sunlight, during a hot summer day in Karachi, Pakistan May 5, 2026 (Reuters)
The meteorological department said temperatures in several parts of Sindh were already running 4–6°C above normal seasonal averages.
Jacobabad, in upper Sindh near the Balochistan border, is frequently cited by climate researchers as one of the world’s hottest cities and among the places most vulnerable to global warming because of extreme heat and humidity combinations that can push conditions close to the limits of human survivability.
Pakistan is considered one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change and extreme weather, facing increasingly frequent heatwaves, floods and droughts in recent years
