Lahore's rapid urbanization worsens heat crisis

From pleasant summers and breezy autumns to chilly winters and a lively spring, there was once a time when locals in the provincial capital would witness the beauty of all four seasons. Over the past few years however, rapid urbanization and climate change have left the city with only two detested weather patterns; suffocating smog and sweltering heat waves.

Lahore and several other districts across the province are yet again in the initial stages of experiencing a severe heatwave, with weather authorities warning of exceptionally high temperatures over the next ten days. In April, temperatures typically range between 30 to 37 degrees Celsius, however, the past few years have seen a noticeable increase in average temperatures.

According to the Meteorological Department's records, the average temperature in April was 33 degrees Celsius in 2020, 35 degrees Celsius in 2021, 42 degrees Celsius in 2022, 35 degrees Celsius in 2023 and 37 degrees Celsius in 2024. Now, in 2025, the mercury scale is expected to hit 40 degrees Celsius.

Environmental specialists have identified rapid urbanization and an increased population growth as key factors behind Lahore's increasing temperatures. Research indicates that between 1990 and 2020, the city converted a significant portion of its green spaces into concrete structures, roads, and buildings, as a result of which Lahore lost 70 per cent of its tree cover between 2010 and 2017.

According to the Punjab Urban Unit, Lahore's construction area has expanded dramatically over the past two decades from 438 square kilometers to 759 square kilometers. Currently, the city's total land area is approximately 404 square kilometers, but its proportion of green spaces has alarmingly decreased to just 2.8 per cent.

As a result of the deforestation, Lahore has been significantly impacted by the urban heat island effect due to which concrete structures like buildings and roads absorb heat during the day before slowly emitting it at night.

Meteorological specialists cite rising global temperatures, shrinking urban green spaces, industrial pollution, and poor urban planning as the primary contributors to heatwaves. "When the temperature remains above normal for several days in a row and the natural sources of cooling are absent, the intensity of the heatwave inevitably increases," emphasized Dr Zulfiqar Ali, Professor at the University of Punjab.

In light of the looming risk of a heatwave, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab has issued essential precautionary measures to protect citizens from extreme temperatures. The advisory specifically warns against unnecessary outdoor activities between 11am and 4pm, when temperatures typically peak.

Additionally, citizens are advised to drink plenty of water, wear light-coloured and loose clothing, consume cooling drinks to keep the body cool and take special care of children and the elderly, who are more vulnerable to the effects of heatwaves including dizziness, high fever, weakness, nausea, and a loss of consciousness. In such cases, the patient should be immediately shifted to a shaded place and given water or Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS). Medical attention should be sought in extreme cases.

While such measures can abate the debilitating effects of heatwaves, experts believe that temporary measures are not enough to tackle the heat crisis, which requires long-term policy-making involving the protection of green spaces, planting of new trees, incorporation of climate change into urban planning, and public awareness campaigns.

Escalating temperatures in major cities like Lahore are indicative of an emerging climate crisis. If immediate and effective measures are not taken, these heat waves can become the norm in the coming years, with their effects not only limited to the health of locals but also extending to the economy, agriculture, and other aspects of urban life.