Nawabshah faces rising threat of heat, pollution

Nawabshah is counted among country's hottest cities, but rapid urban population growth, declining tree cover and green spaces, increasing traffic, industrial activity, dust, open waste burning and an increasingly unpredictable rainfall pattern have added to the city's environmental pressures in recent years.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, May and June are generally the hottest months in Sindh and other southern regions, with temperatures reaching as high as 52 degrees Celsius in some areas. Recent observations have also recorded temperatures in these regions between 2°C and 4°C above normal.

Record-breaking heat

Available climate records show that Nawabshah recorded a temperature of 52.2°C on May 26, 2010. According to climate data from the same year, the city's annual average temperature was 27.8°C, while the average maximum and minimum temperatures were 36.4°C and 18.3°C, respectively. Annual rainfall in 2010 was recorded at approximately 374.15mm.

These figures indicate that extreme heat in Nawabshah is no longer merely a seasonal issue. It has become a major concern affecting the urban environment, public health, electricity demand, water consumption and agriculture.

Rapid population growth

According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics' 2023 census, the population of Nawabshah Municipal Corporation reached 363,138, compared with 279,338 in 2017.

This represents an increase of around 83,800 people in approximately six years, with an average annual growth rate of 4.48 per cent.

Rapid population growth means more vehicles, increased construction, higher electricity consumption, more waste and expanding concrete infrastructure. These factors contribute to rising urban temperatures and worsening environmental pollution.

Rains

The city is located in a predominantly hot and dry region. A research study has classified the area as one with highly uncertain rainfall patterns. According to the study, the city falls within a dry climatic zone, with average annual rainfall of around 100mm, although some years have witnessed unusually heavy rainfall and cloudburst-like events.

Another climate dataset shows that most of Nawabshah's rainfall occurs between July and September, while the city experiences extremely low rainfall for approximately 9.5 months of the year.

This creates a double environmental challenge for Nawabshah: prolonged dry periods and water shortages on one hand, and the risk of urban flooding and drainage problems when intense rainfall occurs over a short period, on the other.

Air pollution levels

Alongside climate-related pressures, air pollution has emerged as another major environmental concern for Nawabshah.

A study, conducted by researchers at the Quaid-e-Awam University of Engineering, Science and Technology, measured PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations at 10 major locations across the city, including New Naka, Hospital Road, Masjid Road, Mohini Bazaar, Sakrand Road, Railway Station, Bhochiri Road, Habib Sugar Mills, and Society Chowk.