Temperatures ‘to rise four to five degrees’ by month-end

Experts warn of unbearable temperatures in Pakistan which will also trigger graver water crisis

ISLAMABAD: It is expected that temperatures are likely to rise from four to five degrees centigrade in most parts of the country by the end of this month, according to climate change experts.

Climate change experts said that temperatures are likely to rise a day or two and may touch or cross 40 degrees centigrade by the end of May in upper and interior Sindh, southern and eastern Punjab and in Islamabad based on the current weather patterns.

Meanwhile, there are no chances of ‘good’ rain in the country in coming days which will also worsen ongoing water crisis in the country. The water situation in two major water reservoirs of the country is already too bad.



A senior climate change expert told The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity that Pakistan had been bearing the ‘real’ heat of climate change since 2015, but had not taken any concrete measures to deal with the growing threat.

“For the last few years, media keeps on running news about rise in temperature as breaking news… unfortunately the authorities concerned in Pakistan are not feeling the gravity of the current situation and taking any concrete measures to deal with it,” he said.

He said that on May 28 last year, Turbat reported a temperature of 54 degrees centigrade. Turban, he added, was the hottest place on earth, according to Claire Nullis of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).

This year, he said, Nawabshah made headlines, recording 50.2 degrees centigrade on the last day of April – recorded as the hottest April day on earth so far.

“These record-breaking temperatures are eye-opener for Pakistan but sadly no one is paying heed towards dealing with the alarming situation,” he said.



According to the expert, national and international researches have already warned that in the near future, it will become difficult to live in Pakistan mainly due to extreme weather events that will also trigger a severe water crisis.

“In 2016, the PML-N government showed interest in upgrading weather system, but now its tenure is coming to an end and nothing much has been done in this regard. The upgradation of our Met department is highly dependent on foreign funding,” he said.