PMD issues heatwave alert as temperatures surge across country

Heatwave conditions gripped several southern districts of Pakistan on Sunday, with temperatures sharply rising in Sindh’s Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Larkana and Dadu.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast severe heatwave conditions in most parts of the country from Monday, with temperatures expected to climb as high as 46 to 48 degrees Celsius in Sindh.

A high-pressure system is set to develop over the upper atmosphere from Sunday, triggering excessive heat across the southern half of the country, including Sindh, southern Punjab and Balochistan, until April 18.

Daytime temperatures in these areas are predicted to remain 6 to 8 degrees Celsius above normal. Meanwhile, central and northern parts of the country — including Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan — will see temperatures 4 to 6 degrees above normal during the same period.

Nights are also forecast to remain unusually warm.

The Met Office warned that the heat could spark dust storms and windstorms. Authorities have advised the public, particularly children, women and the elderly, to avoid exposure to direct sunlight, stay indoors during peak hours, and remain hydrated.

Scientists have linked the early arrival of intense summer conditions in South Asia to climate change, warning that over a billion people in the region are at risk of heat-related impacts.