ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s southern Sindh province issued a heatwave alert on Saturday warning that temperatures could reach as high as 50 degrees Celsius (122°F) in several districts through May 31, urging residents to be extra cautious and avoiding exposure to the sun.
Pakistan is considered one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change and extreme weather, and has faced increasingly frequent heatwaves, floods, and droughts in recent years.
The warning comes as large parts of Pakistan enter the peak pre-monsoon heat season when the maximum temperature in Sindh will remain 4–06°C (39.2–42.8°F) above normal. Cities including Jacobabad, Dadu and Mohenjo Daro have repeatedly ranked among the hottest on Earth, with temperatures in the province exceeding 52°C (125.6°F) during extreme heatwaves in recent years.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department and Sindh’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority said heatwave conditions were expected in central and upper Sindh till June 1, with temperatures forecast to reach 47–50°C (116.6–122°F) in Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad, Ghotki, Khairpur, Naushehro Feroze, Jacobabad, Larkana and Sukkur districts.
“Due to heatwave condition, general public especially children, women and senior citizens are advised to be extra cautious,” the advisory said.
It added that temperatures may rise to 44–47°C (111.2–116.6°F) in the Tharparkar, Badin, Hyderabad, Matiari, Tando Mohammad Khan, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Jamshoro and Sanghar districts.
The advisory said chances of thunderstorms and light to moderate rain might occur at a few places in Kambar Shahadkot, Dadu, Mirpurkhas and Tharparker districts on June 1.
Authorities advised residents to avoid direct sunlight during the day and stay hydrated, while farmers were urged to carefully manage wheat harvesting and protect livestock from extreme heat.
Last year in May, at least 14 people were killed and over 100 injured in storms caused by an intense heatwave.
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 most vulnerable to global warming, due to extreme heat and humidity nearing the limits of human survivability.
